Office of the Historian

195. Memorandum of Conversation1

US/MC–12
Punta del Este, Uruguay, April 11, 1967, 5 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Dominican Sugar Quota

PARTICIPANTS

  • United States
    • President Lyndon Johnson
    • Secretary Dean Rusk
    • Walt W. Rostow, Special Assistant to the President
    • Assistant Secretary Lincoln Gordon
    • F. Van Reigersberg, Interpreter
  • Dominican Republic
    • President Joaquin Balaguer

The President invited Dr. Balaguer to discuss some of the main problems facing his country at the present time. President Balaguer stated that his country is eagerly awaiting favorable news regarding a larger sugar quota and that he would like to have a five year permanent quota of 600,000 tons, primarily from the Puerto Rican and Philippine short-falls. The President said that he did not know what our sugar requirements would be but that sympathetic consideration would be given to the case of the Dominican Republic when the overall sugar picture became known.

President Balaguer said that upon his return to his country he would be asked what new support had been offered to him by the President of the United States. He indicated that he would like to be able to reply that the prospects in the field of sugar were good, that the President of the United States was interested in assisting in the development of the countryʼ water resources, and that he had promised him United States cooperation in this and other matters.

The President said that while he certainly desired to be helpful, his ability to carry this out was a different story. He said he did not know what the sugar short-fall for this year would be, that the Foreign Assistance Bill had not yet been considered by Congress and might encounter serious difficulties, but that as soon as the framework of decisions became known the Dominican Republic would be given very sympathetic consideration.

President Balaguer thanked the President for his assistance and continued support.

  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, ARA Files: Lot 70 D 150, Dominican Republic 1967. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Van Reigersberg and approved in the White House on April 28. The memorandum is part II of IV; see footnote 1, Document 194, regarding parts I, III, and IV.↩