REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 2: DECLASSISED Authority State letter lahz Eyme, NARI Da! 9 2498 Communist agitators desire or it may be terminavou. dve town called Guacimo where the United Fruit Company today is endeavoring to cut fruit from its own plantations, In the meanwhile fruit cutting on other plantations, individually owned by Costa Ricans, has come to a virtual standstill and the fruit on these plantations is rotting on the trees. The strikers and their leaders have succeeded in completely terrorizing the native producers.
Mr. Chittenden, chief agent of the United Fruit Company in Costa Rica, is proceeding at noon today to Guacimo to personally superintend the cutting of fruit on Company plantations for loading on boats over the weekend. Mr. Chittenden has informed the Government of Costa Rica of his intentions and has asked for and has obtained, so am informed, police protection. He also informed the Government that he is taking with him two crews of experienced laborers under the direction of competent foremen. Mr. Chittenden appreciates that in going to Guacimo where the Communists allege they will attempt to prevent cutting, he is exposing himself to some danger but when he called at this Legation Wednesday afternoon to announce his plans, he said he was proceeding on the theory that he himself will not ask any subordinate employee to expose himself to a danger to which he should be exposed. gathered from Mr. Chittenden, however, that his friend, Foreign Minister Gurdián, to whom he also announced his intention, approves his plan, For the information of the Department am attaching hereto