W. Tapley Bennett Jr., the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, had left the island, to take up new duties as U.S. Ambassador to Portugal. Mr. Bennett, the ambassador in Santo Domingo when U.S. Marines were sent to the island, was given full military honours at a special farewell review on Monday (11 April).

Mr. Bennett sent frequent cables to Washington during the attempt in April 1965 by the Dominican " Constitutionalists rebels to return Juan Bosch to power in the island. These cables, according to official spokesmen, led President Johnson to order U.S. forces to the island. The landings soon became a full scale military effort to pacify the island, with U.S. and later Organization of American States soldiers serving there.

Monday's review was staged by the U.S. forces attached to the OAS command in Santo Domingo and was held on the parade ground by the Embajador Hotel. General Enrique Perez y Perez, commander of the Dominican armed forces was present, but no civilian officials of the Dominican government. Mr. Bennett told the assembled troops that their presence on the island had made free elections ( scheduled for June ) possible. He delivered an emotional farewell.

The U.S embassy in Santo Domingo will be left to a Charge d'Affairs, John Crimmins, until after the June elections. Mr. Crimmins, former head of the Cuban Affairs Office of the State Department, is expected them to be named the new ambassador.