206. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Oliver) to Secretary of State Rusk1

SUBJECT

  • Unease in the Dominican Republic

I am not losing my “cool” over recent developments in the Dominican Republic but events of the past ten days have contributed to an uneasy atmosphere in that fragile country. The PRD has been more virulent publicly than it has been in recent months, the new political movement built around General Wessin y Wessin is playing an uncertain but potentially destructive role, the “disappearance” of Colonel Caamano from his post in London2 has had an unsettling effect, and all in all some unhealthy tensions seem to be building up.

On the plus side, however, President Balaguer seems to be firmly in the saddle, the military leadership, despite some in-fighting, appears to be behind him, the PRD is not nearly the cohesive and broadly militant party that it used to be, and the people in general continue to seek stability and to avoid trouble.

The Embassy is of course keeping a close watch on developments and has been requested to give us a current assessment as well as an indication of what, if anything, the US ought to do in the circumstances. I am not sounding the general alarm but did want to let you know that some danger signals are popping up.3

[Page 494]

Harry Shlaudeman has seen some special messages which bear on the general situation.4

  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Dominican Republic, Vol. XVIII. Secret. Drafted by Long.
  2. Details about Caamañoʼs alleged disappearance from London were transmitted in telegram 1292 from Santo Domingo, December 8. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 30 DOM REP)
  3. Rostow was also informed of the troubling developments in the Dominican Republic in a December 26 memorandum from Bowdler who wrote: “For the past several weeks Boschʼs PRD Party has conducted a war of nerves against Balaguer.” Bowdler continued: “the disquieting feature is PRD use of the signals employed to launch the April 1965 affair. It may be nothing more than an extension of their psychological warfare. We have no intelligence indicating plotting or defections within the armed forces or gearing up of Constitutionalist elements for a return to violent tactics. I am puzzled and uneasy, nevertheless. The Embassy is following developments most carefully.” Bowdler concluded: “One way of giving moral support to Balaguer—and warning his adversaries—is for the President to send him warm New Year Greetings.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Dominican Republic, Vol. XVIII)
  4. Not further identified. Telegram 1378 from Santo Domingo, December 25, describes in detail possible signals of trouble from the PRD party, such as a broadcast of the Constitutionalist anthem and the Marseillaise over its radio program. According to the telegram the PRD first played the Marseillaise on April 23, 1965, and at that time PRD Secretary General Pena Gomez explained its historical significance and stated that the next time it was heard on the radio program it would announce the advent of a peopleʼs liberation movement. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 2 DOM REP 23)