Office of the Historian

355. Memorandum of Conversation1

Santo Domingo, June 6, 1976.

SUBJECT

  • Visit of the Secretary to the Dominican Republic

PARTICIPANTS

  • Dr. Joaquin Balaguer, President of the Dominican Republic
  • Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
  • Honorable Carlyle E. Maw, Under Secretary of State
  • Honorable William D. Rogers, Assistant Secretary of State
  • Honorable Robert A. Hurwitch, United States Ambassador (Notetaker)

The Secretary expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to visit the Dominican Republic and President Balaguer expressed his pleasure that the Secretary had found the time to make the trip. Both expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of U.S.-Dominican relations.

President Balaguer addressed the question of Dominican financial indebtedness. Due to heavy borrowings in the past, especially during Trujillo’s regime, Balaguer said that his government was facing heavy payments of some six million dollars annually in the years immediately ahead to AID and the international lending agencies. Fifteen or so years from now, Balaguer continued, payments would be much lighter and the President asked whether it would be possible to “equalize” the debt, i.e., take total indebtedness and divide it by the number of years to pay and arrive at an average annual payment. In this manner, the debt burden would not fall so heavily upon the years immediately ahead. The Secretary asked whether legal flexibility existed to accommodate the President’s desire. Ambassador Hurwitch replied that he thought so, but that the entire matter of indebtedness should be looked into. The Secretary informed the President that his request would be looked into rapidly and that a reply would be forthcoming in about two weeks.

President Balaguer next raised the question of the severe electricity shortage in the Dominican Republic and inquired whether it would be possible to rent some boats with generating capacity that could be [Page 925] linked to the land system. Balaguer said that the GODR would pay for them. He described the emergency as temporary, of two months’ duration. The Secretary asked whether the President had requested such vessels. Balaguer replied that he had done so last year when a similar problem had arisen, but the U.S. technicians sent to ascertain the situation had recommended against the use of such vessels. This year, Balaguer continued, the situation was more acute. Ambassador Hurwitch mentioned that last year it had been ascertained that it would take several months to get such vessels here. On the other hand, efforts were underway to hasten the arrival of a new Westinghouse generator due some time in July. The Secretary then informed the President that (1) due to the time factor, vessels with generating capacity seemed useless to resolve the present crisis and (2) even more vigorous efforts would be made with Westinghouse.

The Secretary said that Dominican votes in international bodies were much appreciated. Balaguer replied that Dominican voting in consonance with the United States was not a passing matter but rather of abiding interest. The Secretary said that the GODR votes were of great importance.

The Secretary asked the President: “Are you concerned about Cuba?” Balaguer replied, “Always.” The President continued that relations with Cuba were limited to some cultural and sports exchanges. Balaguer alluded to Cuban propaganda emanating from its radio broadcasts. The President said that Cuba was potentially an enemy and that the GODR refused to issue visas to residents of Cuba. The Secretary observed that ever since Angola, U.S. relations with Cuba were cool. “We will not accept 15,000 troops in Angola,” the Secretary said. Until they leave, we will not entertain any thoughts of improved relations with Cuba. President Balaguer said that Cuba constituted a danger for all. The Secretary firmly replied that Cuban adventures in the hemisphere will not be permitted. “If organized Cubans militarily try elsewhere, we will not tolerate it, despite what some newspapers say,” the Secretary concluded. President Balaguer found the Secretary’s views reassuring.

Upon leaving for luncheon, President Balaguer thanked the Secretary for having given up his Sunday. The Secretary said that he had already given three speeches in two hours and was enjoying it.

  1. Summary: During a brief visit to the Dominican Republic, Kissinger met with Balaguer and discussed Dominican indebtedness, the country’s electricity shortage, and relations with Cuba.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820118–1631. Confidential; Nodis. Drafted by Hurwitch and approved by Haley Collums in S on July 20. Attached but not published are a listing of follow-up items and a July 17 memorandum submitting the memorandum of conversation to Collums.

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