Hoffmann, Hughes Slam Decision To Ship Troops to the Caribbean

Three of five History and Government professors polled yesterday strongly denounced U.S. policy in, the Dominican Republic. One completely endorsed President Johnson's action.

Stanley H. Hoffmann, professor of Government, said that President Johnson's actions have been "a mistake, which was compounded by his speech." Hoffmann interpreted the speech, televised Sunday, as an indication that the U.S. will intervene whenever there is a threat of Communism in a Latin American revolt.

Lamenting the government's foreign policy, Hoffmann remarked that the U.S. is using a "double standard" which accuses other countries of intervention while we land Marines in the Dominican Republic.

Commonting on possible action by the Organization of American States, Hoffmann said that although the OAS might consent to replace U.S. troops this time, it would be increasingly difficult to get co-operation from the Latins in the future. Hoffmann stated that the Dominican incident will have a detrimental effect on future relations with Latin America.

H. Stuart Hughes, professor of History, called the U.S. action "the least justifiable foreign policy action the U.S. has taken in recent history." Hughes added that to his knowledge," neither the President nor anyone else has presented solid evidence that the movement has been taken over by the Communists. Bosch would have made a better leader than anyone presently on the horizon."

William S. Barnes, assistant dean of the Law School and Director of Inter-American Studies, said that in deciding to support the regime of Wessin Y. Wessin the U.S. is opposing a constitutionally elected president. Barnes explained that although he feels we are justified in our Vietnam position, we have no right to be in the Dominican Republic.

Barnes said that President Johnson had greeted Bosch's election as a step toward Democracy in Dominican National elections of 1962. Now, Barnes continued, Johnson is supporting a regime that helped to overthrow Bosch.

Samuel H. Beer, professor of Government, supported Johnson's move on the grounds that John Barlow Martin, former U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic, has reported to the President that the revolt is controlled by Communists. Beer, an acquaintance of Martin, stated that Martin should be well acquainted with the situation.

Samuel P. Huntington, professor of Government, stated that although ho feels it was justifiable to send troops to the Dominican Republic to evacuate foreigners, he thinks President Johnson was premature in labeling the revolt Communist controlled. Huntington said that the presence of our troops "weakened the reform elements, and support should have been given to former President Juan Bosch."