DELLASSOU Authority Stateletter Inhz 8: ML NARC. 24 98 June 22, 1944 RE: THE VANGUARDIA POPULAR PARTY (The Communist Party of Costa Rica)
San José, Costa Rica Since the inauguration of President TEODORO PICADO on May 8, 1944, the political situation in Costa Rica has been comparatively quiet, and the Vanguardia Popular, the Costa Rican version of the Commuzist Party, has not been as outspoken or aggressive as it was during the political turmoil preceding the inauguration. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and the R, was applauded by the Vanguardia Popular and considerable space in their newspaper, Trabajo. has since been devoted to articles praising the Soviet and Soviet Ambassador to Mexico CONSTANTIN OUCANSKI, who is expected to come to Costa Rica to present his credentials as Minister to the Government at San José. Most of the remainder of the paper has been concerned with the news of the activities of Vanguardia with the usual bitter articles against large corporations, the United Fruit Company and the Compañía Fuersa y Lus, an Electrie Bond and Share, subsidiary, achieving their usual prondinence in these columns.
Before the inauguration, the Brigadas de Choque or Shoek Troops of the Vanguardia wers staging their military drills in front of the Vanguardia olub almost every night. However, in recent weeks it has been noted that these drills have apparently stopped entirely. Presumably.
the Party feels that with the stabilization of the political situation, the necessity for keeping the Shock Troops on the alort is past, 818. 006 944 On May 9, 1944, and May 10, 1944, rmors circulated in San José that General MAXIMILIANO HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ, doposed President of 31 Salvador, vould seek refuge in Costa Rica, and students of the National University of Costa Rica organized a manifestation for May 11, 1944, to express their opposition to permitting MARTINEZ to enter the country. When this news was made publie, the Vanguardia leaders announced that the Buro Politico or fecutive Connittee of the Party had decided that they would participate in the demonstration. On learning this, the University studente decided that they would withdraw from the demonstration which they had promoted, and some confusion resulted as to who hold the demonstration and who attended.
The only important political activity of the Vanguardia group recently has been in regard to the charges brought by several con grosinen against the administration of ex President RATAEL GARDIRON GUARDIA which specifically alleged that high government ofhciala participated