REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Inhz le me NARA Cate 24 981 AIL attended by about 6, 000 people. The DIARIO DE COSTA RICA, on the other hand, est imated the attendance at between 4, 000 and 5, 000. For some time previous to the meeting the Communist party headquarters had been appealing to all liberals and persons of democratic tendencies to be present, and LA HORA, reporting on the proceedings at the meeting, made no claim that all present were communists.
According to the press reports, the meeting opened with the singing of the national anthem, followed by the International. Four communist speakers addressed the crowd before the nominating speech of Sr. Arnoldo Ferreto, all censuring bitterly the totalitarain states and affirming the necessity of saving Costa Rican democracy and of organizing the progressive forces of the nation.
Sr. Ferreto in his speech referred to the forthcoming visit of the Italian warship DUQUE DE AOSTA to Costa Rica and severely criticized the Government for granting permission for the sailors to parade through the streets of San José, saying that in addition to being contrary to the spirit of the Lima Conference the Government was assuming a grave responsibility for any trouble which might ensue. Sr. Ferreto then proposed the name of Sr. Mora as the party candidate for the presidency, and by acclamation he was nominated, the vote being unanimous. according to LA HORA. LA TRIBUNA reported that the ovation received by the candidate was nenormous and prolonged, the crowd singing again the International.
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