USEU Authority Stateletter whez ME HARA Date 2498)
ANA DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS MERICA February 23, 1944 Costa Rica, iry 16, 1944.
CCA. Mr. Calo ARA. Mr. BonVal 330 Attitude of Presidente elect Costa Rica.
and Plans of Teodoro in Conversations Relations between Picado and Calderón Cuardia have never been particularly close or cordial, and the former 18 likely to be somewhat independent. He feels more obligated to Calderón Guardia brother. Picado line will not be as close to that of the Vanguardia, and hopes to remedy the administrative inefficiency which existed under his predecessor. Picado will not bow down to Mora, but neither will he double cross him. Picado hopes to pick a foreign minister noted for his friendliness to the United States from whom we may expect more cooperation than we have received from Echandi, especially as regards the expulsion of enemy aliens and the vesting of their property. Picado attitude is that the labor code and social legislation must be adapted to conditions in Costa Rica. He is keenly the Department with the plans of his Administration, versations which René Picado, and Reference is made 1927 despatch no. 1030 conversation which do and to the Embasy 14 transmitting campaign address.
interested ias.
careful to stress dent Calderón Guardia and to indicate his intention of continuing the latter policies, it is believed that relations between the two men have never been especially close or cordial.
This is especially true since on several occasions Dr.
Calderón Guardia is supposed to have been willing to sacrifice Picado candidacy in return for the withdrawal of Cortés and the selection of a compromise candidate. In my conversation last night with the President he mentioned again the fact that Cortés made a grievous mistake in not accepting a compromise. Señor Picado has pursued the Presidency, however, with dogged determination and it is believed that his chief support has come not from the President but from the latter brother, Señor Francisco Calderón Guardia.
In our conversation on February 12 don Teodoro told me that he was very much obliged to don Paco and, while implying that it was not politically feasible to give the latter a Cabinet post, he was considering making don Paco either Second or Third Designate.
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