REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Enclosure No. 1, Despatch No. 997, Janul. DECLASSIFIED Agthority State Letter Fahz American by me, NARA Date 2498 CONFIDENTIAL January 17, 1936.
San JOSE MEMORANDUM FOR THE MINISTER The total votes cast in the Presidential election of 1932 amounted to 75, 835. The number of eligible voters in the country is approximately 120, 000, but it is not expected that more than 80, 000 votes will be cast on February 9, 1936.
The CORTESISTAS claim that over 60, 000 voters have signed cards signifying their intention to vote for León Cortés. The BEECHISTAS claim that approximately 40, 000 voters have signed cards indicating that they intend to vote for Octavio Beeche. Many of the voters who signified their intention to vote for León Cortés did so many months ago. long before Octavio Beeche became a candidate. and the BHECHISTAS claim that many ex CORTESISTAS are now fervent BEECHISTAS.
In the Congressional and Municipal elections of February 1934, the last election held, the COMMUNISTS received 3, 385 votes. It is well to remember, however, that in these elections the COMMUNISTS had candidates in only three Provinces: San José, Limon and Puntarenas, while in the elections of February 9, 1936 they will have candidates in every Province of the Republic.
Alajuela and Heredia are considered strongholds of the COMMUNIST Party, and the COMMUNISTS now claim that they will receive 15, 000 votes in the next elections. The estimates of non Communists range from