American Embassy San José, Costa Rica Enclosure to Despatch No. 1979 Dated October 19, 19444 MEMORANDUM OF CONVOCATION BUTTEEN MANUEL MORA, CHIEF OF VANGUARDIA POPULAR PARTY AND THIRD SECRETARY WATROUS Mora opened the conversation by referring to the situation in Nicaragua and explaining that the Vanguardia Popular was at present not in favor of the fall of Somoza, since, as he expressed it, they did not know what attitude any possible successor might take.
He explained that Somoza had been forced to grant concessions to the workers of Nicaragua since he had incurred the enmity of Capital by being so commercially avaricious. Therefore, mora stated, the Vanguardia now had an opportunity to change the structure of Nicaraguan social and economic life without resorting to an armed revolution. He characterized Noguera Gómez and his band of revolutionists as assassins and maintained that they had been aided by elements of Cortesismo of Costa Rica. He added that President Picado had given the Nicaraguan exiles all freedom while in Costa Rica, but that the President could have pursued no other course when matters came to a head. It was his opinion, said Mora, that General Somoza had deliberately ensured publicity for the part played in the affair by the Nicaraguan National Guard, and he stated that he felt that Somoza wished to embarrass Picado. His thesis is that Somoza fears the Liberal atmosphere of Costa Rica and would be glad to see the present Administration here discredited.
Throughout this part of the conversation received the impression that Mora and the Vanguardia were playing a more active role in the acquisition of social guarantees for the Nicaraguan workers than had been indicated heretofore, brought the conversation back to Costa Rica, and Kora explained the new attitude of his party as announced at their recent Congress, and as already reported to the Department. He said that he felt that their problems with the United Fruit Company could be worked out successfully, and he spoke highly of Mr. Hamer, manager of the Compañía Bananera de Costa Rica, contrasting his comparatively liberal attitude with what he characterized as the inhuman approach of his predecessor, He also mentioned that his group had reached an understanding with TACA airlines, and that he found that enterprise easy to deal with. He added that they were now working on the solution of some questions in their relations with the American controlled power company.
Turning to his relations with the Picados he stated what he had stated publicly many times, namely, that the interest of his party in its alliance with the National Republican Party was nothing more or less than the fullfilment of their common program. He said that he felt that the President was sincere in his desire to bring about the reforms to which he was pledged, and cited as an example Picado recent speech in which he promised complete electoral freedom in the mid term elections.
This, he said, was the first step toward remaking the country in a better