Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXXII, Dominican Republic; Cuba; Haiti; Guyana

345. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Coordination of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Williams) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Vaughn)¹

Washington, June 11, 1965.

SUBJECT

• Minutes of the 303 Committee Meeting June 10, 1965

The minutes of the meeting of the 303 Committee held on June 10, 1965 contain the following items:

[Omitted here is discussion of Cuba; see Document 302.]

“Haiti—The Threat and Possible Pre-emptive Measures²

[2 paragraphs (8 lines of source text) not declassified]

• “c. The action suggested in paragraph 6 was also approved to the effect that Ambassador Timmons should get in touch with General Gerard Constant, Chief of Staff, and advise him that, in the event of Duvalierʼs death,³ his (Constantʼs) safety would be guaranteed if he could maintain civil order until the arrival of Haitian civilian leaders in exile in accordance with a listing to be negotiated with Constant at the critical time.
• “d. Mr. Vance submitted a list of four potentially useful Haitian officers produced by the JCS who, in their estimate, appear to be a cut above the Haitian average. [2 lines of source text not declassified]”

1. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Country File, Haiti. Secret; Eyes Only.
2. See Document 343.
3. A June 16 memorandum from Williams to Peter Jessup of the National Security Council Staff, reported that the minutes of the 303 Committee meeting were to be corrected to show that Timmons was to take the action indicated in the event of Duvalierʼs death, not before. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Country File, Haiti)