REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES teDECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Inhz By me NARS Date 24 18 vigorously supporting the candidacy of Manuel Mora Valverde, despite the fact that he is only 26 years of age and is therefore not eligible for election because of the Constitutional prohibition which stipulates that the President must be 30 years of age, announces in bold headlines this week that if the party of León Cortés carries out its proposed intention to have the Presidential designate nominated by the Congress instead of in a second run off election between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the first election, the laborers of Costa Rica are resolved to go to all extremes of violence. See enclosures Nos. and 2 This threat is not dismissed nonchalantly in circles intimately acquainted with Costa Rican conditions. Competent observers feel that the Communists, now riding a wave of increased political popularity and influence, may seize upon the failure of Mr. Cortés or Mr. Beeche to receive an absolute majority of the votes, to demonstrate their political power in Costa Rica. As rabble rousers the present Communist leadership is far more effective than the more conservative opponents, and recent publications in their newspaper combined with recent activities of their representatives in the Congress show that this organization will go to any lengths to attain its objectives.
It is not known where the Communists gathered the impression that Leon Cortés will resign his candidacy and