REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Whz By ML, NARS Date 2498 their great talking points, to wit, that Picado was nothing but a tool in the hands of the Calderons and could be counted on completely to carry out their desires for continued corruption. The opposition made certain gains in Congress, with the result that some members thereof are somewhat heartened about the possibilities for 1948. The results of these elections have generally been interpreted as a blow to the Calderón brothers, and it cannot be sufficiently emphasized that a large portion of the opposition hate for the present Administration stems from the conviction that Picado is merely an interlude between the two presidencies of Dr. Calderón Guardia.
Given the weakening of the Calderón Guardias hand, there is now a much greater chance for a compromise candidate in 1948.
vent, it seems likely that the opposition will return to its customary internal strire centering about the personal ambitions of its several leaders, and that the criticism of the President and his Government will probably diminish.
At the same time, Manuel Mora has reiterated his datermination to continue collaborating with Picado and his Government. How successful the combination will be in promoting social legislation in Congress remains to be seen, but it is noteworthy that the influence of the Vanguardistas in that body was increased by the results of the congressional elections, and it may be that Mora will take a firmer stand with the Government for this reason. Mora has stated confidentially that his party remains unanimously in favor of a new presidential term for Dr. Calderón, and it is unquestioned that the Vanguardis tas will leave no stone unturned to achieve Nevertheless, it seems probable that MOT is a sufficiently astute politician to recognize a losing cause when he sees one, and should he become convinced that the country would not accept Calderón again, he may easily throw his support to whatever candidate he feels has the best chance of election and who would, in return, work in closest colla.
boration with the Vanguardia. As an alternative to this náth of action, or if he finds no friendly candidate to support, it is possible that Mora may lead his faction back to the independent position it occupied before 1944.
As noted in the first despatch under reference, President Picado has been faced with a problem concerning his press rolations. The DIARIO DE COSTA RICA, the paper with the greatest circulation in Costa Rica, has been consistently and vehemently against the Administration. Since this paper is the property of Señor Ulate it could hardly be expected to take any other point of view, but it may be said that particularly in recent months many persons have felt that the DIARIO has overreached itself in its partial and often ontire.
ly inaccurate criticism of the Government. The DIARIO Tcounterpart, LA HORA, has been, if anything more sensational and more unfair than the DIARIO. Perhaps th»
most acourate Costa Rican paper, the PRENSA LIBRE, has not been as indictive as has been the DIARIO, yet it has oridonosi a plainly anti Administration tendency. This has lost the President