REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Hit. DECLASSIFIED Alhority State Leher The eyme NARA Date 2498. koromber 20, 1943. rom the is realistic, however, in foreseeing an inevitablo conflict between the left wing groups here and the Church sponsored labor union movement.
It may be that the Archbishop influence can be seen in a remark made recently to an officer of the Embassy by President Calderón Guardia to the effect that instead of criticizing the President for turning Over the country to the Communists the conservative element here should be grateful that his administration has been able to remove the claws from the left wing movement and convert it into a political instrument which does not depart fundamentally from the traditional Costa Rican norms. This viewpoint would seem to have evolved from the Archbishop influence, which could be summarized briefly as follows: Endeavor to make the leftist groups more moderato and less extreme by satisfying some of their legitimate aspirations (which the President here has done in the social guarantees, Labor Code, et cetera) and at the same time create a potential bulwark in the form of an essentially rightist or center movement as a counterbalance. This is taking place in the guise of the Church inspired labor unions.
The Archbishop is undoubtedly an ambitious mam who prides himself on keeping well informed on world events and trends and who sees himself in a position to contribute substantially to the solution of Costa Rica political and social problems. Despite the somewhat violent opposition to him from extreme conservatist groups, it is probably true that the Archbishop, by virtue of his position, will be able to exert a restraining and perhaps conciliatory influence during the critical period which is just ahead.
Respectfully yours, Zay Allen Dayout Tay Allen Des Portes.
Enclosure Memorandum of November 19 by Mr. Edward True blood.
Memos 800 EGT mm