271. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Haiti1
339226. Subject: Title III Program for Haiti.
1. Confidential—Entire text.
2. Recent human rights developments in Haiti have practical impact on our assistance levels to Haiti.2 This is particularly true of Title III program which was not in the FY 81 allocation tables notified to Congress. Under current human rights conditions, Department has determined that Title III program for Haiti can not be justified this year. Pursuant to this decision, Embassy and AID Mission are instructed to inform appropriate GOH officials:
—That the deteriorated human rights environment resulting from recent GOH actions has made it inappropriate for the USG to continue discussions about a Title III program with the GOH at the present time.
—Accordingly, there will not be a Title III program for Haiti in FY 81.
3. As soon as Embassy has informed GOH, please notify Department so we can pass similar message to Amb. Charles.3
We wish to keep Charles informed in order to maintain good communications and protect his position. For same reason, we prefer first to pass notification regarding termination of Title III discussions directly to GOH in Port au Prince rather than through Amb. Charles.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800610–0812. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Davis and Howard; cleared in AID/LA/CAR, ARA/ECP, HA, and EB/OFP; approved by Bushnell.↩
- See Document 269.↩
- In telegram 438 from Port au Prince, January 26, 1981, the Embassy reported that Kimelman met with Duvalier on January 26 to inform him of the termination of Title III discussions. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D810039–0123)↩