Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

425. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, November 5, 1976.

SUBJECT

• Human Rights and Political Changes in Haiti

PARTICIPANTS

• Georges Salomon, Ambassador of Haiti
• Gerald de Santillana, ARA/CAR

A luncheon conversation with Ambassador Salomon November 5 covered a number of topics.

The Regie du Tabac

Salomon had just returned from a two weeks’ visit to Haiti, where, among other things, he attended the meetings of the Joint Commission on the Implementation of Foreign Assistance. He thought the meetings went very well.

According to Salomon, representatives of the GOH, in connection with the Joint Commission meetings, promised that funds from the Regie du Tabac henceforth would be allocated to the regular and development budgets. The commitment was oral, but Salomon said it would soon be reduced to writing. Salomon said this was a key step he and others had long been urging on President Duvalier. Duvalier was understanding of the concern of the international agencies regarding the use of the Regie funds, but had been unable to do anything as long as the tobacco and match monopoly was under the control of Henri Siclait. Siclait’s recent ouster, according to Salomon, was a decisive step which cleared the way for better use of Regie funds.

Saying I was certain that fiscalization of the Regie would impact very positively on the assistance agencies, I asked how much of the Regie funds would be allocated to the regular budget. Salomon could not specify, but indicated it should be a substantial portion.

Human Rights

Salomon then volunteered that he considers the issue of human rights his number one priority in Haiti’s relations with the U.S. He claimed he has regularly raised the matter with President Duvalier during his visits to Haiti. It is difficult for foreigners to understand the importance and independence of our Congress on issues such as this, he went on, so he has been trying to explain the role of Congress in his reporting to his government. He himself had received direct inquiries on political prisoners in Haiti from several members of Congress, including Representative Don Fraser of Minnesota. He was planning to try and contact some of these Congressmen directly, and encourage them to visit Haiti.

Salomon went on to say that there had been real progress in human rights in Haiti since the 1960s, but further progress was both possible and needed. At the same time, he asserted that Haiti, just 40 miles from Cuba and astride the Windward Passage, faced a genuine threat of Communist subversion. He thought it important to the U.S. and the other non-Communist nations of the hemisphere that Haiti be able to defend itself against subversion.

I observed that the basic concerns of Congress for human rights are fully shared by the Department, that we were encouraged by recent steps in Haiti such as the convening of the regular criminal courts and the release of 261 prisoners in September, but that we remained concerned for continued shortcomings, particularly the lack of due process for most accused persons, prolonged detention without trial, the government’s secrecy concerning persons imprisoned, and the like. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there appeared to be no reason why persons engaging in or plotting violence could not be detained, as long as the accused were afforded due process and humane treatment.

Salomon agreed, and acknowledged there was definite weakness in Haiti in the area of “procedures.” He said some of these deficiencies, particularly concerning the political prisoners, could be resolved with a “stroke of the pen,” but the GOH felt it had to move a step at a time owing to the danger of subversion. Nonetheless, Salomon felt he could assure me there would be continued improvements in the observance of human rights over the coming year.

Siclait Ouster

Returning to the ouster of Siclait, Salomon characterized it as a major political development clearing the way for further change and “liberalization.” Siclait and the people associated with him (whom the Ambassador did not name) had long been the key obstacles to reform, opposing any change on the grounds it would endanger the regime. Salomon said he was sure Siclait’s removal would lead to a number of political as well as financial reforms.

Racetrack Project

On the subject of reform, I mentioned I had recently learned of a multi-million dollar project to build an auto racing complex near Port-au-Prince, apparently with GOH financial support. Noting that the project, if it materialized, would be reported overseas, I suggested it would almost certainly draw unfavorable attention in the U.S. as a questionable diversion of Haiti’s limited resources from development.

Salomon replied quickly that he had been aware of the project since last April. He said at that time he told President Duvalier the international assistance agencies would be certain to object. Duvalier, who seemed to have been sold on the project, told him that the international agencies had objected to a GOH project once before, the question of the Ericsson telephone contract, but the GOH had gotten by without a cutoff of aid. Nonetheless, Salomon said misgivings in the GOH were such that National Central Bank President Antonio Andre and Finance Minister Emmanuel Bros had refused to sign off on a letter of commitment hiring a French company to plan the project.

Salomon went on to say he now has the distinct impression the project is not moving forward. Here again, the ouster of Henri had brought a change for the better. The people supporting the President’s interest in the project were mainly associated with Siclait, while nearly all the people remaining in the government are opposed. Therefore, although the project is an “extremely delicate matter” to raise with the President, the Ambassador said he was confident it would not get off the ground. It is “sinking of its own weight,” he concluded.

Aviation and Textbooks

Salomon then said he had two matters he wished to raise with me. One is the problem of obtaining some airline service for Haiti to replace the Port-au-Prince to San Juan service discontinued by Eastern Airlines. Salomon said that the Dutch Government was filing a request with the CAB for ALM (Dutch Antillean Airlines) to fly the Haiti-San Juan route, and the GOH hopes the State Department will be able to support this Dutch application, at least for temporary service for this winter season. I said I would check with our aviation specialists and look into it.

Salomon also said that Foreign Minister Edner Brutus had asked him to investigate the possibility of obtaining foreign assistance of some sort to supply textbooks to Haitian secondary schools, which now have virtually none. I said that the need for Haitian textbooks to be in French would probably limit what the U.S. could do, but I would pass the request on to AID.

COMMENT: Salomon was clearly trying to cast developments in Haiti in a positive light (e.g., on human rights and the Regie du Tabac), but he also seemed straightforward and personally confident that further reforms or improvements are in the offing. Several times he mentioned meetings with Foreign Minister Brutus, leaving the impression the two have close and good relations.

Salomon, an experienced and capable professional diplomat, appears to be doing a good job as Haitian Ambassador in Washington, seeking opportunities to advance friendship and aid for Haiti whenever possible in a low-key and friendly manner. He would seem to have good access to President Duvalier.

1. 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.