Haiti
420. Telegram 97589 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Haiti
Summary: The Department instructed the Embassy to provide Duvalier with information on the latest reports of coup plotting but asked if it might not be preferable to await some other opportunity to suggest that he undertake reform efforts, inasmuch as such a comment might be interpreted as a threat if delivered in conjunction with a warning about imminent danger to the regime.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760152–0228. Secret; Niact Immediate; Stadis; Exdis. Drafted by Heavner and approved by Luers. In telegram 1035 from Port-au-Prince, April 22, Isham reported that he had shared information on the coup plot with Duvalier on April 21 but had “limited himself to essentials,” not making the “additional observations I had proposed to make.” (Ibid., D760152–1130) In telegram 1045 from Port-au-Prince, April 23, Isham reported that he “would seek a more propitious opportunity” to deliver a message about the importance of Haitian Government attention to the country’s problems. (Ibid., D760155–0973) Telegram 1019 from Port-au-Prince is Document 419.
421. Telegram 95858 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Dominican Republic
Summary: Citing information that indicated a coup attempt would take place in the near future, the Department recommended a new warning to Duvalier.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760152–1205. Secret; Stadis; Exdis. Drafted by Yohn, cleared by Heavner, and approved by Luers. All brackets are in the original. The April 20 telegram of the same number from the Department to Port-au-Prince was not found. In telegram 47701 to Port-au-Prince, February 27, the Department had reported on details of the coup plot allegedly being formulated by anti-Duvalier figure Alphonse Lahens and other Haitian exiles. (Ibid., D760073–1179) In telegram 95859 to Port-au-Prince, April 20, the Department transmitted a report indicating that a group of commandos within Haiti was prepared to make an assassination attempt against Duvalier. (Ibid., D760152–0623)
422. Telegram 119078 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Haiti
Summary: The Department transmitted a report indicating that Haitian opposition figures were persisting in their plans to overthrow Duvalier even after an April 20 clash between security forces and coup plotters forced key conspirators to flee the country.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760187–0287. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Strasser, cleared by Yohn, Haddox, and Ortiz; approved by Luers. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified. In telegram 1031 from Port-au-Prince, April 21, the Embassy reported on a firefight in the Carrefour district of the city that might have been connected to the reported assassination plot against Duvalier. (Ibid., D760151–0590) In telegram 1035 from Port-au-Prince, April 22, Isham informed the Department that in light of the possible link between the Carrefour incident and the reported coup plot, he had met with Duvalier on April 21 to convey the “gist of latest report on anti-GOH plotting.” (Ibid., D760152–1130) In telegrams 1065 and 1089 from Port-au-Prince, April 26 and 28, the Embassy reported that Haitian officials were playing down the firefight and did not appear to regard it as a serious incident. (Ibid., D760157–1030 and D760164–0193) According to a July 8 memorandum of conversation, journalist Jean Dominique told Isham that the shootout had been followed by the arrest of a number of middle-class Haitians and intellectuals. (Ibid., Central Files, 1970–1973, ARA/CAR, Lot 79D323, Memorandum of Conversation, 1976)
423. Telegram 182198 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Haiti
Summary: The Department forwarded information indicating that senior Haitian Government officials and military officers were disaffected with Duvalier’s lack of leadership and had agreed on a plan to overthrow the President.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760285–0376, D760283–0869. Secret; Stadis; Exdis. Drafted by Strasser, cleared by Heavner, Ortiz, and Kaiser, and approved by Luers. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified.
424. Telegram 2441 From the Embassy in Haiti to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy reported that Duvalier had removed Henri Siclait from his powerful position as the head of the official tobacco monopoly, noting that the dismissal of such an influential and corrupt figure was a significant step that inspired hopes for further constructive changes.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760342–1193. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Kingston and Santo Domingo. In telegram 2408 from Port-au-Prince, September 8, the Embassy transmitted a new Cabinet list and news of several other appointments and dismissals, observing that the removal of Siclait from the Regie du Tabac was the most notewothy change. (Ibid., D760340–1062)
425. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: In a conversation with De Santillana, Haitian Ambassador Georges Salomon sought to portray recent developments in Haiti in a positive light by pointing to forthcoming reforms of the official tobacco monopoly, progress in the field of human rights, and the removal of Henri Siclait.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P830032–0063. Confidential. Drafted by De Santillana.
426. Telegram 3091 From the Embassy in Haiti to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy reported on Haitian reaction to the U.S. Presidential elections, noting that the public welcomed Carter’s victory but that officials feared that U.S.-Haitian relations would cool under a Democratic administration.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760419–0847. Confidential. Repeated to Santo Domingo.
427. Telegram 3658 From the Embassy in Haiti to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy reported on Duvalier’s unusually extensive Christmas amnesty, pointing to the measure as a sign of the Haitian Government’s growing responsiveness to U.S. concerns about human rights.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760476–0338. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Santo Domingo, Kingston, and Paris. In telegram 3584 from Port-au-Prince, December 21, the Embassy reported on other recent positive steps taken by the Haitian Government to improve its human rights record. (Ibid., D760468–1200)