Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

DR–22. Memorandum of a Conference with President Eisenhower¹

May 13, 1960

OTHERS PRESENT

• Secretary Dillon
• Secretary Rubottom
• Ambassador Farland
• General Persons
• General Goodpaster

The President began by saying that he was being bombarded by people who are opposed to Castro and Trujillo. Mr. Pawley and Senator Smathers were in his office earlier in the day on this matter. Smathers has an idea that Trujillo wants to get out, and that this can be arranged if we are skillful—i.e. that there can be a changeover without Castro-type forces coming into power. This would, however, take time and care to bring about.

They had added that there now exist juntas with planes already chartered, in Miami, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness. They think public opinion toward Trujillo both among the people and in the Army is favorable—that he is regarded as a great benefactor. They see the great danger as being from abroad, a revolutionary movement of the Castro type, linking up with some people—definitely in a minority—in the Dominican Republic. The President said their idea is that a group of political scientists, about four in number, of recognized reputation could come into the Dominican Republic and supervise an election. They think that Trujillo should promptly announce the holding of free elections. These men could invite the UN in to observe. The idea is that Trujillo is ready to do this, but first he must be left alone for a while in order to bring it up.

The President went on to say that Mr. Pawley had charged that the U.S. Government is trying to bring about a breaking of relations of Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela with Trujillo. They claim it must be recognized that Trujillo has brought stability and progress to the Dominican Republic. The President said that Pawley seems to have a pathological hatred for Castro. Senator Smathers is genuinely concerned over the whole situation. The critical thing seems to be their idea that Trujillo must announce elections and govern until a new group comes in, with the UN or the OAS supervising these elections. The President thought the State Department should keep this matter under the closest attention, and should definitely not engage in trying to stir up other Governments against Trujillo.

Mr. Dillon said one of the primary questions is whether in fact Trujillo is ready to step aside. He told the President of a report [text not declassified] Trujillo, [text not declassified] would not step aside, and in fact did not plan to retire “before the year 2000.” Trujillo had said that when Senator Smathers was there he talked only in a very rambling way about elections, which Trujillo had planned long ago. Mr. Dillon said the point is that we are fearful that Trujillo will not hold fair elections and we do not want our Government associated with some farce. He went on to say that we had nothing to do with the breaking off of relations with Trujillo by Latin American countries. Colombia and Venezuela have done it because he fostered the invasion of Venezuela. Mr. Rubottom stated also that we had nothing to do with the breaking off of relations. He added that the Colombians make the point that having done this they are in a better position to break off relations with Cuba later.

Ambassador Farland then said that Mr. Pawley is not disinterested in this matter. He had disposed of his holdings, but retains a right to reacquire them. In addition, a brother continues to retain major holdings there. Mr. Farland said that he had tried to get Trujillo to step aside some time ago and that, after agreeing, Trujillo simply did not and would not do this. The main point about elections is that the dissidents, who would run in these elections, cannot raise their heads. If they were to try to campaign or to raise issues, Trujillo would not allow this to be done. If Trujillo is associated in any way with elections, the man in the street would have no faith in them. The President said he had been told that in the trials he recently held, Trujillo had said he was ready to invite observers to attend, but failed to make good on this. He agreed that the key is whether Trujillo wants to get out. He said there are indications that Trujillo is telling a double story. Mr. Farland confirmed that Trujillo had once made a statement that he was going to retire at once, but then did not do so.

Ambassador Farland said that the economic situation is now deteriorating rapidly. The Dominican Republic is basically a very prosperous little country, but now, however, Trujillo has gained possession of all the sugar interests. The dissident group are “sitting on their pocketbooks” and Trujillo, because of the recent fall in sugar prices, can now get no credit. Much of his money is in the form of local sugar plants. He said it must be recognized that Trujillo has done a great deal for this country. He said that if he were to run tomorrow he could be elected. The fact is that he controls all news outlets, and it would be a year before free elections could be meaningful.

Mr. Rubottom said that Trujillo is involved in all sorts of efforts all over the hemisphere to create disorder. The President commented that Castro is also, and he would like to see them both sawed off. Mr. Dillon commented that the State Department is about ready to propose some additional action against Castro.

General Persons commented that if there were an invasion of the Dominican Republic from the outside, Smathers and Pawley think that Castro would come in. Mr. Rubottom recalled that under the existing military contingency plan we would send in our forces into the area to keep Castro out.

The President said that the problem is to find a way to give a chance for a new party to form. Mr. Farland said that various members of the underground had been in touch with him for two years or more. They are very anti-Castro, but they fear that Castro would try to carry out a coup after a junta came in. The President commented that if a junta were to act, the Army might join them, to get even with elements of the palace guard.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Staff Secretary’s Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on May 16, 1960. Information on the source text indicates that this conference took place in the White House at 2:00 p.m.