Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

390. Telegram 439 From the Embassy in Haiti to the Department of State¹ ²

Port-au-Prince, April 25, 1970, 2355Z

Joint State Defense Message

Subject:

• Coast Guard Attack Against GOH: Receipt of Note from FonMin Chalmers

I have just received note from FonMin Chalmers, informing me three Coast Guard cutters heading direction Mole St. Nicolas. He further states GOH believes it likely they will go to Cuba and asks me inform USG urgently so that it may take necessary measures prevent them from doing so.

Knox

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Haiti, Vol. I. Confidential; Limited Official Use; Immediate. Repeated to Santo Domingo and CINCLANT. In an April 26 Memorandum for the Record, the National Military Command Center reported that U.S. Naval forces had “positively identified the vessels sailing toward Guantánamo Bay.” Upon docking there, the crewmen had reportedly requested “political asylum or refuge.” (Ibid.)
2. Foreign Minister Chalmers told Ambassador Knox that mutinied Coast Guard cutters were likely heading to Cuba and requested preventative measures by the U.S.