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

92. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Dominican Republic¹

Washington, May 23, 1965, 5:39 p.m.

1209. For Vance. Highest authority² suggests that in dealing with Imbert you should make clear that in any new government we are prepared to give representation to his adherents and to assure that his anticommunist philosophy will be upheld.

Specifically you should give assurances along following line:

1. We will insist that there be no communists in any new government and that we will not support any government that includes communists. Our objective is a government of national union composed of individuals liberal in their politics but anti-communist.

2. We shall insist that such a government adopt a policy of reconciliation and renounce revenge either toward the United States or toward Imbert and his following.

3. FYI. If Imbert insists we would be prepared to include two or three of his own people in cabinet posts in a new government provided they are reasonably liberal and not extremists. We would also be prepared to include two or three of Balaguer people leaving possibly five places for Boschʼs people. End FYI.

4. We will undertake to assure Imbertʼs personal security. This might be best achieved if he were to come to Washington either as Ambassador or head of a Reconstruction Mission. Under those circumstances security arrangements could be readily provided. We can also arrange financial security.³

5. All of this represents a generous arrangement to meet the requirements of Imbert and his followers.

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–9 DOM REP. Secret; Immediate;Exdis. Drafted and approved by Ball.
2. In a telephone conversation with George Ball on May 23 at 2:02 p.m. (see footnote 3, Document 91) the President indicated that another telegram, subsequently telegram 1209, was necessary and outlined its contents.
3. During the conversation cited in footnote 2 above President Johnson also told Ball: “Weʼll give [Imbert] plenty to live on, and weʼll guarantee to [him] that the power of the 50 states—the fleet, the airplanes, the bombs—will aid and not let any Communists get in the government and not let any Communists rise to power, and reconstruct for [his] people. Now if [Imbert] demands anything else then heʼs a selfish bastard looking out after himself ‘cause weʼre looking after [his] philosophy and weʼre looking after [his] people; and thatʼs the way Cy Vance ought to put it to Imbert.”