HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL P, DAVIS March 20, 1948.
Sat around most of the day at the office waiting for information. number of callers and phone calls brought in scraps, but nothing of outstanding importance. asked for an audience with the President to transmit verbally the Department recent message, which is no more than a pious expression of home for a prompt peaceful settlement. felt that delivery of such a message in the middle of actual military operations would be a futile gesture, but it was apparent that the Denartment wented me to do so, and also thought might get across some other ideas. was given an appointment for five PM at the Artilleria. On arrival was received with full military honors. a rather silly performance. and escorted by the President into the small office which General Rene has been using. The conversation was interesting but unproductive. got over a hint that might have to send for military planes from Panama to evacuate Americans unless there were more visible progress in reestablishing order. The President gave me to understand by some rather clumsy questions that He believes the Embassy is in contact with Figueres. At the end he told me frankly that if he could get planes from Nicaragua he would do so.
but that he had had no success to date. know of my own knowledge that at least four Nica planes have been here at one time or another. He asked me to ask Washington to try to dissuada Guatemala from sending further arms. said would transmit his request. He said if could doanything to bring about a compromise solution he would be grateful, replied that If should be able to do anything would do so gladly, but the problem was one nrimarily for Costa Ricans.
He escorted me to my car when left and sent along an officer as escort as far as the barrier. Just beyond that point there was a crowd, mostly women, weiting to deliver food etc to prisoners. Several recognized me, or the flag on thecar, and waved.