Office of the Historian

339. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Vaughn) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Thompson)1

Washington, April 19, 1965.

SUBJECT

  • Proposal to counter Radio Havana Broadcasts to Haiti

ARA endorses the attached proposal2 to use Haitian exiles to broadcast radio programs in Creole to counter communist propaganda now regularly beamed to Haiti by Radio Havana and recommends that you support it in the 303 Committee.3

As pointed out under e. Risks Involved, Duvalierʼs reaction to this operation could be quite sharp. It is possible that our ability to maintain a presence in Haiti will be threatened. In recommending approval of the program, the Department emphasizes the importance of avoiding, to the extent possible, program content which would tend to direct Duvalierʼs displeasure towards the United States, rather than the Haitian exile community. To this end, particular care will be required in preparing that portion of broadcasts originating in the U.S. which is aimed at disassociating the United States from Duvalier in the Haitian mind.

  1. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Country Files, Haiti. Secret; Eyes Only.↩
  2. Not found↩
  3. An April 23 memorandum for the record notes that the proposal received telephonic approval from 303 Committee principals on April 22. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Country Files, Haiti)↩