DR–8. Editorial Note
On June 14, 1959, Generalissimo Trujillo informed Ambassador Farland of an attempted invasion of the Dominican Republic that afternoon. In telegram 480 from Ciudad Trujillo, June 14, Farland reported the following to the Department: “Trujillo advised me at 8:15 tonight that one transport aircraft landed at Constanza late this afternoon with 18 insurgents aboard. Dominican Army garrison reported in pursuit. Origin and nationality group as yet unknown. Landings momentarily and will keep Embassy fully informed. Ciudad Trujillo calm and as yet unaware this information but considerable military air activity noted now moving out of San Ysidro.” (739.00/6–1459) In telegrams 482 and 484 from Ciudad Trujillo, June 15, Farland reported on discussions with Foreign Minister Manuel de Moya who stated that members of the insurgent group came from Cuba and Venezuela. (739.00/6–1559) According to telegram 487 from Ciudad Trujillo, June 16, Moya informed Farland that day that one of the invasion planes was chartered in Miami and flown from Miami to Cuba by an American pilot. (739.00/6–1659)
During the following days fighting erupted between the Dominican Army and the insurgents, who had split into several small groups. In telegram 493 from Ciudad Trujillo, June 18, Farland stated in part, “Rumors continue confirm my original assumption collaboration [between the insurgents and the garrison of Constanza]. Highly reliable source reports landing known to clandestine group several days prior invasion and that number organized Dominican civilians made contact with insurgents at time landing.” (739.00/6–1859) In a synopsis of State and Central intelligence Agency material reported to the President, dated June 22 through 24, 1959, John S.D. Eisenhower stated in part, “Landings in the Dominican Republic appear to be relatively successful and the government appears to have failed to stamp them out. One of the main sources of these invaders is Cuba, where a drastic purge of air force officers was carried out during the past week. This purge was instigated by Raúl Castro and eliminated officers known to be seriously concerned with the communist penetration in the armed forces.” (Eisenhower Library, DDE Diaries)
[Facsimile Page 2]In telegram 529 from Ciudad Trujillo, June 26, Farland stated in part, “As final mopping up insurgents continues, of major importance is fact that Dominican Campesinos gave full support and allegiance to Trujillo. Failure of insurgents to win expected cooperation this group preliminary caused defeat at Constanza and rout on north coast.” (739.00/6–2659) According to a memorandum of conversation dated July 2, Assistant Secretary Rubottom and Venezuelan Ambassador Marcos Falcon-Briceño discussed a Dominican request for convocation of a special session of the Council of the Organization of American [Typeset Page 482] States to consider the Dominican charge that preparations for an invasion were being made by Cuban and Venezuelan forces. (739.00/7–259) In a memorandum to Acting Secretary of State Herter dated July 6, 1959, Rubottom discussed the COAS meeting scheduled for that afternoon. Suggesting a possible U.S. position at this meeting, Rubottom recommended that U.S. representatives ask the Council of the OAS to defer action on the specific request of the Dominican Republic and to support the convening of a meeting of Foreign Ministers under the Charter of the OAS to consider the entire problem of tension in the Caribbean area. (ARA Deputy Assistant Secretary Files, Lot 61 D 411, “OAS, 1959”) Documentation on the fifth meeting of consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, which was convoked to consider tensions in the Caribbean area, held at Santiago, Chile, August 12–18, 1959, is printed as VE–30.