REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES (Biolito (srit FIBWB VOTC asr wel grifov NimiTED OT. DECLASSIFIED Anthority Stateletter Mhz By ME, NARA O2:09 2498 DEPARTMENT OF STATE the American Republics DIVISION OF KATW MERICANAPEARS MEMORANDUM March 1938 Mr. Chapin :V Mr. Briggs: MI. Duggan; De spatch no. 153 of February 16, 1938, from San José, Costa Rica.
Recent congressional elections in Costa Rica indicate that the Government Party won eighteen out of the twentytwo Beats. The remaining seats were scattered, with the Communist Party returning one deputy. It is noted that the Communist Party polled over 10, 000 votes in the last election whereas in the previous elections in 1936 it received only 4, 500. This increase will probably result in a severe case of the jitters in Guatemala and other countries in Central America which greatly fear the communist movement in Costa Rica. do not regard it as significant, however, as have always felt that the wide distribution of land holdings in Costa Rica furnished a substantial obstacle to any serious development of communism in that country.
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