DECLASSIMEU Authority Stateletter Whe em NARS Cz. 2498 9but the known disapproval with which both of these Government and that of El Salvador would view a leftist Government in Costa Rica gives the Government same pause. The Government can count on the probable sympathy of Mexico through the influence of Lombardo Toledano, who has twice visited Costa Rica and voiced his unequivocal support for President Calderón Guardia and the labor movement here. His intervention in the political affairs of Costa Rica in calling Cortés and his followers forces of reaction was greatly resented, however, by a large section of the country.
The Government is not easy, however, as there is a limit to the amount of fraud that can be used and an even greater limit to the amount of fraud that can be hidden from the people. Costa Ricans, it has been said, will not take dictation, and if told to walk down one street, will invariably walk down another. In this election the Communists are calling the tune, and the dancers don like it.
SULOLARI Cortés has in my opinion, the majority of the Costa Ricans behind hin. If the wealthy men succeed in bribing election board officials, and Cortés is declared the winner, the Government may try to stay in power by force. This is against the tradition of the people, however, and though such a coup might succeed temporarily, causing some bloodshed, in the end Calderón Guardia, not being a brave man, would probably take a plane for Verdico where he has bought a house of refuge. Manuel Mora, being more daring, night try to see that the Government held on, but if the people want Cortós the so called any and many of the police on whom the Government are now counting, may go over to Cortést side, The toughest man in the police force and its commanding officer, Daniel Gallegos, has a reputation for honesty, but on the other hand he has al. ways had a deep hatred for Communists. Whether he can be bought is not known, but the circumstances are propitious. The Under Secretary of War, Colonel Manuel Rodrigues, also served under Cortés from 1936 to 1940, and as he has made a lot of money in this administration, he might be open to the highest bidder if he feels the chances are good. In such a case, the police would be fighting against well amed and determined.
Communists. If Picado wins the elections there will undoubtedly be many protests, some of them violent in nature, though in such a situation, the advantages are on the side of the Government. As a Nicaragua General said, Cortós has 75 percent of the votos and Picado 75 percont of the chances. ogu bybees Roger Tyler, so SRT