CECLASSINO Authority Stateletter the e menace 24 981 American Embassy San José, Costa Rica Enclosure to Despatch No. 22245 Dated November 27, 1944 SECRET MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN ACTING MILITARY ATTACHE AND MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY 22 November 1944 On 21 November the Secretary of Public Security, General René PICADO, invited the undersigned to his house for a lengthy conversation. After an initial statement that he thought there were a few things which might be interesting to the Acting Military Attaché, the following items were reported: CHILEAN MISSION TO COSTA RICA General PICADO, upon inquiry, indicated that he had heard that his brother in law, Secretary of Agriculture José Joaquín PERALTA, had discussed the proposal of having a Chilean Agricultural Mission come to Costa Rica, but disclaimed any knowledge of negotiations pertaining to an Aviation Mission. He said that he would talk to PERALTA about the matter and report further details of hi CENTRAL AMERICAN POLITICS The General said his principal reason for coming back by United Fruit Company ship was to avoid the necessity of meeting CALDERON in Mexico.
The General repeatedly referred to Mexican interference in Central American politics. Among the incidents mentioned were: a. He stated that a Mexican Embassy officer who was escorting a Guatemalan political exile to San Salvador, on being informed by said exile during the trip that he had just heard that President PICADO had resigned, stated, That move came two days early. General PICADO said that this story was started by César ORTIZ from San José. The General said that CALDERON spent a great deal of time with LOMBARDO Toledano in Mexico. The General said that Manuel MORA and Rodolfo GUZMAN frequently visit the Mexican Embassy in Costa Rica The General said that he was informed by a Guatemalan political exile in whom he has considerable confidence that Mexico stirred up political trouble in Guatemala and Salvador and is trying to do the same in Costa Rica.
e. He said that during MORA recent visit to Mexico he spent considerable time with OUMANSKY and added that the Nicaraguan Ambassador to Mexico had likewise conferred at length with OUMANSKY with the end in view of Nicaraguan recognition of the this information was given to the General by Costa Rican Ambassador to Mexico, Mr.
JINESTA.
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