</s>176-10033-10151 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 JFK ASSASSINTATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY : NARA RECORD NUMBER : 176-1003-1015I RECORD SERIES : Church Committee AGENCY FILE NUMBER: AGENCY FILE NUMBER # : 1776-100333-101151 ORIGINATOR : CIA FROM : Bissell TO : Bündy, McGGeorge TITLE : Briefing Paper/Dominican Republic DATE : 2/17/1961 PAGES : 5 SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : Paper, Textual CLASSIFICATIONS : Declasified RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 3/28/2001 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS :

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, was mentioned in relation to U.S./Dominican Republic relations, with the government adopting a "wait and see" attitude towards him.

The Dominican Republic's government, led by Trujillo, had worsened relations with the U.S. since August 1960, with anti-U.S. sentiment increasing and pickets outside the U.S. embassy in San Juan.

The CIA was authorized to provide dissident exiled Dominican groups with equipment on January 2, 1961, provided it was delivered by Dominicans. The VRD (C) and Secretary of the Department Group within DEARBORN were informed that the Agency was prepared to provide them a limited supply of arms and equipment.

President BETANCOURT was informed that the U.S. was providing financial support and technical guidance to VRD activities directed by Horacio ORNES on January 27, specifically for ship repairs, recruiting and training crews, locating sites and facilities for future PM activities, strengthening the political organization of the VRD, and propaganda.

The CIA was authorized to inform President BETANCOURT that Headquarters was prepared to consider providing arms and equipment to any bona fide resistance element with courage on January 30. Station Caracas reported that President BETANCOURT was grateful to receive the above information.

The FDR for exiled leaders disclosed their plan of action, which felt could be implemented if they were provided with support. They claimed to have small boat infl-infill capability devices and a sea and air capability.

The PCR (Puerto Rico) expressed a willingness to assemble a small cadre in Puerto Rico, contemplating developing maritime capacity and expressing internal counterparts through a plan of action.

The VRD was actively supported by the CIA in repairing and outfitting their yacht to develop an arms delivery capability. Support was also given to the VRD's propaganda and organization activities.

A boycott capability was discussed, with picketing activities organized against ships carrying cargo to or from the Dominican Republic in San Juan. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) was mentioned as having been recently abrogated its contract with the Dominican unions under pressure from George Meany.

The Department of State disapproved any approach to U.S. unions on this subject last summer, but WHD felt that policy should now be reviewed in the light of more recent developments and an attempt to build up an international shipping boycott against the GODR.

Internal conditions in the Dominican Republic were reported as rapidly approaching a stage of clearly point out that the country was creating feelings of tension and desperation not only among opposition elements but within the ranks of Trujillo's elite itself.

Sources within the middle class expressed fears of eventual liquidation of Trujillo, with some predicting he would move against them in late March 1961 if congressional action on the windfall sugar quota was favorable to him.

JFK Declassified Files

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