DEULASSUMU The General said that on his return trip he stopped at Amapala, Honduras where he was met by Dr. Ramón LCPEZ Jiménez, Subsecretary of Government and Major Hernán BARON, AGUIRRE Secretary who had been sent there by AGUIRRE to pay Salvador respects to the Costa Rican ar Secretary. The General says he met these men before when they were serving under MARTINEZ and he had travelled to Salvador to assure MARTINEZ that his brother and he were not Communists. One of them said that he had seen a check of the Mexican Embassy in the amount of 10, 000 (dollars) drawn in favor of the Salvadorean Communists by the Mexican Embassy in Salvador. These two men are mentioned in PRENSA LIBRE and DIARIO on 21 November as special emissaries of the AGUIRRE regime enroute to Washington on 16 November to attempt to secure recognition. General PICADO gave the impression that he favored the AGUIRRE regime over the MOLINA government in exile, basing his attitude on the antiCommunist stand of the AGUIRRE group. He indicated, however, that he was aware that the AGUIRRE regime contained elements of a pro Axis tinge.
He said, My brother will not recognize MOLINA unless the United States does.
LOCAL POLITICS He stated that his only fear in connection with the political situation at present is that the CALDERONISTA VANGUARDIA faction may not permit the President to carry out his sincere intention of giving the people free elections and may go so far as to assassinate the President, thereby automatically placing Francisco CALDERON Guardia in the Presidency. He said that if such would take place he would have no interest in staging a counter revolution or resort to bloodshed after the deed was accomplished.
He expressed his conviction that Congress was the worst thorn in the President side. pointing out that immediately after the President recently made his commendable speech pleading national unity, Congress introduced a measure to provide for the conferring of the Benemerito on CALDERON, which he termed an unheard of honor for anyone as young as the ex President. He attributed this action on the part of Congress as a political move on the part of Congress to show that the CALDERONS, and not PICADO, still ruled the roost.
He said that Otilio ULATE, although a member of the political opposition was one of the greatest Democrats, and friends of the United States, in Costa Rica. He added that PINAUD in his opinion was nothing but a French collaborationist who before the entered the war was careful to report the news in a manner favorable to Germany. He added that PINAUD was a definite Franquista.
He said that Francisco de Paula GUTIERREZ Ross returned to Costa Rica because he was afraid that he was going to lose the job of Ambassador to the United States to Dr. CALDERON Guardia.
STATUS OF COSTA RICAN ARMY General PICADO stated that he has a personal interest in seeing the mobile unit organization be expedited.
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