DR–14. Memorandum from the Representative at the Council of the Organization of American States (Dreier) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs’ Special Assistant (Hill)1
SUBJECT
- Present Policy toward Situation in the Dominican Republic
The main criticism I have to make about the present policy toward the situation in the Dominican Republic, as I understand it, is that it is essentially negative, whereas under present conditions I believe we need something of a more positive nature.
Under normal conditions, if we had plenty of time to let events take shape, it would be reasonable for us to say that our policy toward the Trujillo regime was primarily to make sure that it was not replaced by a Castro or Communist-dominated group. However, the course of events points in this direction and the pressure is growing all the time. It seems to me, therefore, that we should consider ways and means of encouraging a satisfactory transition from the present regime to one which will work toward the development of democratic procedures and of a means of forestalling the efforts of Castro and others worse.
This, of course, has a bearing upon our position in the Inter-American Peace Committee in regard to the Venezuelan charges against the Dominican Republic as well as with reference to the possible moves in the Committee or other organs of the OAS directed at Cuba.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 739.00/3–1460. Secret.↩