REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. DECLASSIFIED Authority, Stateletter the by me NARI 029 2458. 23 to, Washington, as reported in my despatch No. 446 of August, 20. He will not visit the United States, however, until he has supervised the appointment of the Election Boards on September 10, If he is able to make this trip it will undoubtedly be for the purpose of ascertaining what support he might find for a compromise candidate or even reelection for himself. Also it is felt that he wishes to counteract any unfavorable impression that may have been given the Department of Sta te by visits of friends of Cortés (particularly Dr. Antonio Facio. and from reports from this Embassy (see despatch No. 446 of August 20. There seems to be little doubt that President Calderon fears that the United states is favoring Leon Cortés in the coming elections. The publicity given the 4th of July invitation to the ex President in Tiempo of Mexico City as well as locally, have made the President doubly afraid that such is the opinion of Costa Ricans in general. This would account for his bitter accusations in the local press of the political interference of the American workers on the Pan American Highway and his naive request to me that the Embassy announce its neutrality in the campaign and at the same time that it look with favor on some compromise candidate. Apparently he feels that proof of his sincere desire to better the lot of the working cla ses is his only hope. If he can demonstrate that all Costa Rican workers are solidly behind him, he probably has it in the back of his mind that a visit to the United States might elicit praise from prominent officials there such as President Roosevelt and Vice President Wallace for his forward looking social policies which he can turn to good account in the coming elections. He will undoubtedly try to convince the Department, should he visit the United States, as ha ha. tried to convince the Embassy, of the antilabor attitude, if not. pro Nazi attitude,. of Cortés.
The Prensa. Libre, which is the Administration paper and mouthpiece, of August 30th, in reporting the reception given to President Calderón Guardia in Alajuela, stated that his speech was constantly interrupted by applause and shouts for re election and the labor code. This has been confirmed by persons who attended the meeting but it was not reported by any other newspaper. The President was quoted by Ultima Hora of August 30th, as saying in his speech, Whoever succeeds me in the Presidency must carry out the social work which have initiated. and La Tribuna headlined its edition of August 31st with the President statement that must not leave the Presidency without giving land to the country people.
818. 00 18121 on There is enclosed a copy of a letter dated August 24, 1943 from the American Vice Con sul at Port Limon, commenting on the President speech and the labor demonstration that took place there on August 22nd Mr. Smith points out that only one local official, the President of the City Council, was invited. The report states that the meeting was entirely a labor union affair, planned and directed by the members of the labor unions, and this appears to co incide with the general opinion expressed concerning this demonstration. The Diario de Costa Rica in a four column editorial of August 25th, commented on the fact that three organizers of the former Communist Party, now the Vanguardia Popular, including Manuel Mora himself, went to Limon to assure themselves that a sufficient number of laborers were sent there and that no untoward event should occur. The President himself in his speech to the demonstra tors in Ala juela on August 29th, recognized that, 90 of this great manifestation is made up of workers of the city and country. It e President specifically addressed himself and pointed out that his sympa thy with them had originated in his work as a PS MEL doctor.