SITUATION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (REPORT #260 - AS OF 7:00 AM EDT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A001400050010-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2006
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: June 4, 1965
• Content Type: IM

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OCI No. 1932/65
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
4 June 1965
Situation in the Dominican Republic
(Report ___#T6_0_- As of am ED
Santo Domingo was quiet during the night.
Political activity remained at a low key and the
military situation did not change significantly.
The rebels continued to press their propaganda
campaign against the US and loyalist forces. The
stepped up pace of radio and press charges of alleged
atrocities and cease-fire violations has been ac-
companied by acts of provocation such as the rebel
attacks on loyalist police and military posts.in the
southwestern part of the country on the night of 2
June. On the same night rebel forces directed heavy
fire against US forces along the east bank of the
Ozama River.
Caamano's camp apparently is trying to present
a picture of unrest in the interior to discredit
loyalist claims that they control all of the country
except the downtown section of Santo Domingo. In
addition, they hope to win international sympathy as
a dedicated group of patriots beseiged by a host of
"repressive" forces. A rebel rally is scheduled to
be held on Saturday "to demonstrate to the world our
unbreakable determination to fight to the death for
the return to constitutionality."
This intensified rebel psychological offensive
coincides with.the arrival yesterday evening of the
three-nation Organization of American States (OAS)
Commission. An OAS human rights group is already
in Santo Domingo and today the UN Security Council
is scheduled to resume debate on Soviet charges that
human rights are being violated in the Dominican
Republic.
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On the loyalist side, little effort is being
made to counter rebel charges or to give its version
of the story. Military leaders are said to appear
weary and dejected and are becoming increasingly
convinced that only direct military action can solve
the situation.
Ambassador Bennett comments that he has failed
to uncover any widespread sentiment for the "con-
stitutionalist" cause among Dominican peasants who
comprise approximately 70 percent of the country's
population. On the contrary, information from the
countryside indicates that many people hope for a
return of former president Joaquin Balaguer who to
them represents order, security, and enlightened
paternalism. Ambassador Bennett notes that this
general image is obviously at considerable variance
with that projected by the "constitutionalist" camp.
Whatever may be the real extent of popular sup-
port for the Caamano movement, Bennett reports that
important and highly vocal elements of Dominican
society are strongly opposed. A significant segment
of the business and professional classes, civic leaders
in Santo Domingo and Santiago, most Church leaders,
one wing of the Social Christian Party and other
moderate forces have made it abundantly clear that a
"constitutionalist" victory would be a national
disaster and presage a Castro/Communist takeover.
This attitude, however, does not constitute
automatic support for Imbert or the extreme right.
Rather, it is based on the conviction that some com-
promise must be found between the two extremes.
Ambassador Bennett states that there currently
appears to be no way to present the Guzman formula
except as a "constitutionalist" victory. As origi-
nally conceived, the formula was to provide national
accord through the establishment of a. broad-based
government generally acceptable to a broad spectrum
of Dominican opinion, excluding only the extreme
right and left. However, suspicions have now hardened
and most "non-constitutionalists" believe that ac-
ceptance of the formula would represent a victory for
Juan Bosch's Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD).
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In a recent conversation with a. US official,
Hector Garcia Godoy, a foreign minister in Bosch's
cabinet, stated that he does not believe Guzman
will be able to form a government that is acceptable
to a majority of the Dominican people, much less the
loyalists. Garcia commented that however well in-
tentioned Guzman may be, he is an intimate of Juan
Bosch and would be only a Bosch puppet.
No new violence has been noted in the interior.
The payment of salaries to government employees and
day workers continues. US officials visiting Santiago,
Bonao, Monte Cristi and Dajabon on 3 June reported
these cities and surrounding areas to be calm.
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