REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 5: DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter The Congressman Juan Rafael Arias calls upon til By ME, WARS 02:09 2418 to intervene for the purpose of mediating between the two groups. Mr. Arias expresses the fear that unless the banana strike is amicably adjusted, it will spread to coffee workers and to other industrial and agricultural activities of the country. He points out that the strike up to date is causing a large loss of revenue to Costa Rica both through Government revenues and through loss of wealth by individuals. President Jiménez is reported to have said that he is willing to lend his good offices to effect a settlement but thus far he has made no move to have the Government arbitrate the differences between the strikers and the employers as has been done by mediation agencies in the United States whenever strikes are threatened.
The situation continues to greatly alarm officials of the Government who are fearful of the possibilities of a general strike and a subsequent drive for control of the Government if they succeed through the general strike in breaking down constitutional Government. This fear results from the fact that the banana strike is directed by politically minded agitators who have not consulted the majority of the workers and are carrying on in the banana regions now through the imposition of a reign of terror.
The situation is best described as being loaded with dynamite. Whether there will be a big explosion or whether the fuse will flicker out without further and greater damage to the entire country is dependent largdy on what occurs at Guacimo over the weekend during the attempt of the United Fruit Company, with the support of the Government, to