DELLASCHEN Authority Stateletter Inhaz 8: ML, Cate 24 18 EMBASSY OF THE inte todos UNITED STATES OF AMERICA San José, Costa Rica CONFIDENTIAL December 18, 1944 No. 2223 Subject: Political; Transmitting memorandum of a converSation with Manuel Mora regarding Costa Rican economic conditions and Central American politics.
The Honorable The Secretary of State, Washington, Sir. 18. 00 12 1044 have the honor to refer to this Embassy despatches no. 2144, of November 27, in which was discussed the high seost of living in Costa Rica and the scarcity of basic foodstuffs; no. 2187, of December 5, which reported the declaration of the Vanguardia Popular Party relative to the proposed amending of the Labor Code as it affects agriculture; no. 2201 of December 9, concerning the political effects of the continued rise in living costs; and no. 2204 of December 13, in which was related a conversation with Sr.
Julio Pena about the fiscal and economic problems of Costa Rica. In continuance of these despatches there is enclosed herewith a memorandum of a conversation which was held on December 16, 1944, between Manuel Mora and myself. Third Secretary Watrous was also present during this conversation.
Sr. Mora, as the Department is aware, is the leader of the Vanguardia Popular Party in Costa Rica, the leading figure of the labor movement here, and the chairman of the Finance Committee of the Costa Rican Congress. For these reasons, Mora views on the political and economic conditions of the country are always of importance, and, since it is evident that the economic problems facing Costa Rica at present are themselves one of the chief factors in the political situation, an interview was requested with Mora. The latter agreed to come to the Embassy, and the enclosed memorandum describes the rather lengthy conversation which followed.
It will be noted from the memorandum that Mora takes a serious view of the economic problems which are be setting the nation, but that he feels that they can be solved if they are attacked with determination and without regard for their political implications. He described some reforms which he advocates for the financial organization of Costa Rica and spent some time explaining the experiment that Vanguardia Popular is about to conduct to stimulate the production of foodstuffs.
Sr. Mora is evidently concerned with the deteriorating political situation of Central America, and he spoke at some DCR. ARA Unit length Anale Rev.