637.39/9–1850
The Counselor of Embassy at Habana ( Elbrick ) to Mr. Eugene Desvernine of the Office of Middle American Affairs
official informal
Dear Gene: We have been very much interested recently—not to say slightly alarmed—at the rather ominous trend in Cuban-Dominican [Page 663] relations, particularly as evidenced by the various representations made to the Department and the OAS by Dominican representatives in Washington.1 My own reaction to the apparent inability of the Dominicans to let sleeping dogs lie is one of extreme annoyance and I can assure you, as indicated by Dihigo’s remarks to me recently (our despatch No. 585 of September 12),2 that this feeling is shared by the Cubans as well.
It appears to me that the Cubans have made sufficient obeisance to President Trujillo and that, if Trujillo’s extraordinary pride would only permit him to act in a sensible manner, he would have seized the opportunity offered to him in recent months to allow the Cayo Confites affair to sink into the oblivion that it deserves. Apparently Trujillo is not so constituted as to permit him to forget and forgive, and he insists upon claiming his pound of flesh. From what Dihigo told me I gather that the Cuban Government is not at all disposed to grant further concessions to the Dominicans and this I think is quite understandable. I was of the opinion that great progress had been made in restoring Cuban-Dominican amity and friendship, but it is now obvious that the Dominicans are unwilling to allow any final settlement except on their own terms.
The Dominican Chargé in Habana has just returned from a visit to Ciudad Trujillo where, he says, he had a most disagreeable interview with President Trujillo. He said that Trujillo has gathered copies of all of the Cuban newspapers and magazines which have published articles recently “slandering” him and the Dominican Republic. He was in such a state of high dudgeon when Bernardino saw him that he ordered Bernardino to return to Habana and close the Dominican Legation here. Bernardino says that he asked President Trujillo to give him another chance to smooth matters over and said that he would like another opportunity to speak to Ambassador Butler on this subject. Apparently Trujillo gave Bernardino permission to do so, but stated that if this anti-Dominican press barrage cannot be stopped he is going to close down the Dominican mission [Page 664] here. Bernardino said that he told Trujillo that Ambassador Butler had been a good friend of the Dominican Republic and that what had been accomplished to date in improving Cuban-Dominican relations is due to his good offices. Naturally we have no way of knowing how much Bernardino has embroidered on the account of his interview.
It seems to me that this matter has taken a twist which might prove to be very disagreeable to Ambassador Butler and to this Embassy. Bernardino, by his recent maneuvering, has attempted to place the onus of this whole business on the Embassy here, as you can readily perceive, and I am afraid that he may present the matter to Ambassador Butler in exactly this way when the Ambassador returns. I know that the Ambassador has been doing everything he could to help matters, but I know also that he feels that he can go only so far. While he is disposed to use his good offices wherever possible to straighten out Dominican-Cuban difficulties, nevertheless he will not relish the idea of being blamed if negotiations between the two countries break down and diplomatic relations are broken off.
We shall do everything we can here to convince Bernardino that he is jousting with windmills and that the Dominican Government expects far too much if it thinks that it can force the Cuban Government to control the Cuban press to the extent desired by Trujillo. I have noticed in recent memoranda of conversations from the Department that the officers of the Department have attempted to drive this point home to the Dominican representatives in Washington. I think that more of this is needed and I hope you will agree that it would be wise for the Department to call in the Dominican Ambassador and place the issue squarely before him, pointing out that the Dominican Government can hardly expect the Cuban Government to clamp a censorship on the local press.3
I, for one, feel that this Cayo Confites record has been played too often and that both nations should stop their yapping and forget the whole matter. In any event, I feel that any further needling by Trujillo will only serve to create further disturbances in this area and will carry us farther than ever from a solution of the Caribbean problem. While I know that the Cuban Government has been guilty [Page 665] in the past of unfriendly behavior toward the Dominican Republic, I feel that it has made sufficient formal retribution and I am convinced that it will never make a public confession of guilt, as desired by Trujillo.
I should greatly appreciate your thoughts on this subject and any suggestions that you may have as to any action we can properly take in Habana.
Sincerely,
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In a memorandum dated September 7, 1950, of a conversation held September 5 with Ambassador J. R. Rodriguez, Dominican Representative to the Organization of American States, Mr. Charles C. Hauch of the Office of Middle American Affairs wrote in part:
“In response to my inquiry Ambassador Rodriguez confirmed that the Dominican Government does not regard the controversy as completely settled by the return of the Angelita. He reiterated what we had already heard from other Dominican sources, namely, that the Dominican Government does not expect material compensation for damages from Cuba, but does want to receive ‘moral compensation and guarantees’. He said that by this his Government has in mind recognition by the Cuban Government, probably in an exchange of notes with the Dominican Government, of its failure to meet its international obligations in connection with the organization of the Cayo Confites plot, and its commitment not to permit such things to happen again,” (739.00/9–550)
↩ - Not printed; this despatch contains a detailed outline of the Cuban point of view. (637.39/9–1250)↩
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In telegram 56 to Ciudad Trujillo, September 28, the Department in part instructed the Embassy to inform General Trujillo, should favorable opportunity present itself, of the “… extreme likelihood that further insistence by Dom Rep of its ‘pound of flesh’ from Cuba will weaken rather than strengthen moral position his Govt before inter-Amer community. If Pres refers to alleged anti-Dom attitude some portions Cuban press and radio, you may wish point out that COAS/OC Res referring to ‘systematic and hostile propaganda’ contain express limitation to insure that no violation by any Govt of its constitutional guarantees re freedom of expression was called for and point out that extreme sensitivity each instance alleged anti-Dom press attack may be contraproducente.” (361/9–2850)
In telegram 80 from Cuidad Trujillo, September 30, Ambassador Ackerman indicated in part that he had spoken with the President as instructed but did not specifically refer to his own remarks. (637.39/9–3050)
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