HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS March 17.
Manuel Mora, leader of the Vanguardia Popular narty, the local communist organization, came to the house this morning by invitation, having intimated that he would like an opportunity to discuss matters with me. Through friends he had intimated his desire for a meeting, but not at my office as that would be too conspicuous. sent back word would be glad to receive him at my residence, and after dark if he desired to avoid being seen. He chose 11. 30 AM as a good time. And as for making it as inconspicuous as possible, he arrived in a car with four men armed with machine guns who took up positions on the stteet in front during the nearly two hours we were together. Anybody passing by couldn help knowing who was indide. We had a very reasonable and interesting conversation. Donovan memo gives full details.
During the afternoon and early evening we had several reports of Americans being molested. one house entered by the nolice and a radio taken without receint: one nrivately owned piper cub plane deliberately smashed by Mariachis; one man beaten up and forced to carry Mariachis in his jeep to several houses they wanted to shoot up. We were keot busy calling the authorities trying to get some protection. No success. March 18.
This morning returned the call of a few days ago of the new Paraguayan charge affaires, and then went to the meeting called by the foreign minister of the entire diplomatic corps less the Guatemalan minister. He recited to us the already known to this Embassy at least. Pacts of the past few days including the capture and identification or arms and muniti ons fron the Guatemalan government arsenal, and made the formal protest of his government to all American states against this intervention of a foreign power on the side of rebels against the legally constituted and recognized government of Costa Rica, somewhat remarkable feature was his making the protest ithout awaiting the Guatemalan answer to his demand for exnlanations which he told us he had made to the Guatemalan ministe two hours previously. If by chance the Guatemalans should give a satisfactory answer he would find himself in an embarrassing nosition.
In the afternoon wenrenared three strong notes of nrotest against government interference with American rights and one rejecting the naive suggestion of the Departnent of Public Security that it be permitted to make any use it wants to of Public Roads equipment. that is to say, Government property.