303. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Snow) to the Acting Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- Situation Respecting Haven for Former President Batista
You will recall that an attorney for former President Batista of Cuba, Mr. Lawrence Berenson, has been interested in finding a haven for General Batista to which he can go from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Government has indicated that it wishes him to leave and we believe that his departure from the Dominican Republic would contribute to lessening tensions in the Caribbean area.
On March 9, 1959, Mr. Berenson called on both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Rubottom, concerning Batista’s residence problem. Following this visit Mr. Murphy assisted Mr. Berenson in sounding out the Swiss (with regard to Liechtenstein) and the French (with regard to Monaco) through their Ambassadors here, but with negative results. Mr. Berenson recently traveled to Europe to inquire of a number of governments and principalities regarding the likelihood that they would permit Batista to enter their territories if he were to apply. All of these approaches met with negative results.
The Department’s position has been one of informing our Ambassadors in countries where Mr. Berenson was making an approach that he is seeking a haven for Batista. In several cases the Department also sent messages to the Ambassadors asking them to make informal representations indicating only that the Department believed that it would be beneficial if Batista were to leave the Dominican Republic for the reason mentioned above. The last effort made by Mr. Berenson and the Department was with regard to Ireland and in this case I discussed the matter with the Irish Ambassador John Hearne on April 27.
The latest word from Mr. Berenson indicates that for the moment he is uncertain as to what further steps he might take. He has asked the Department to consider an approach to Belgium and Holland and has shown an interest in considering the Canaries or the Azores possibly [Page 506] with a condition that former President Batista would agree for a stipulated period not to leave either of these places should he be admitted.
Despite the discouraging results to date ARA is continuing its efforts to be of assistance in this matter, and I will keep you informed on future developments.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/5–659. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Stevenson, concurred in by Robert Donhauser (G) and William Dale (EUR), and initialed by Snow.↩