REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Inhz e; me on Cate 24 18 AIL Con cress and was recently nominated by the party to be the communist candidate for the presiäency of the Republic in te elections to be held in May, 1940. He is thirty one years of age, a lawyer by proíession having been graduated from the Law College in San José, is a brilliant speaker, is a man of clean habits, and is regarded with respect even by his political opponents.
Other persons actively associated with the party are Professor Carlos Luis Saenz, secretary of the party, a man or intellect and culture, José Luis Fallas, Lic.
Jaime Cerces Mora, brother of Manuel Mora, Arnoldo Ferreto, Efrain Jiménez Guerrero, Oscar Barahona, and others or less importance, including Guillermo Fernandez and Rodolfo Guzman.
The latter went to MOSCow about two years ago as a guest of the Soviet Government for the purpose of stuaying Soviet methods, but because of conditions to be noted later in this despatch he has not lately exercised much influence in the party, unless it has been in a very subtle form.
The number of persons belonging to the party and paying membership dues is not known to the Legation, but during the last congressional election, about eighteen months ago, the party polled approximately eight thousand votes. It is understood, however, that many of those who voted the Communist ticket were not actually members of the party but were liberals who were dissatisfied with the other political groups. At the present time it is estimated by political observers that in the presidential election in 1940 the party might be expected to gain at least twice that number of votes, unless there is meanwhile