REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Ihr öy ME, NARA Da. 24 18 his intelligence is well above average, he is perseverant and has a great deal of personal courage. His association with foreigners, particularly Americans, has broadened him out and increased his almost AngloSaxon worship of energy and directness. Likewise, his easy circumstances have enabled him to make a number of visits to Europe and to the United States.
Since becoming Foreign Minister, he has visited all of the other Central American Republics, and Mexico, which country, significantly enough, impressed him particularly. It is not difficult to explain this sympathy of interests in view of what Mexico is endeavoring to do in a political and social way today, but it is believed that Señor Gurdián is more impressed with the strong, centralized nature of Government in Mexico than with its far reaching social and agrarian programs. One complex he has acquired is a phobia against Communists, agitators and other radical troublemakers, and if he ever attains the peak of power he can be counted on to deal with them with a heavy hand. In fact, he is the type of Latin American politician with enough imagination and ability to succumb rather more easily than most to the temptation of becoming a dictator.
This side of Don Raúl character may be partially explained by the fact that he has Nicaraguan blood, and is thus inclined by temperament to be more ruthless and direct than the easygoing