HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS. Enil EXTRACT FROM MY DIARY April 11, 1948 Over the weekend had arranged a number of inspection trips to see various American enterprises and let the local authorities. know that the American Embassy was watching their interests. The first was to be a short car trip to some of the hydroelectric plants of the San Jose electric. company which have suffered bomb damage. Mr.
Gehrels and started out in my car early this morning and were back by noon. On arriving home learned that fighting had broken out in Port Limon. Later in the day it was confirmed that the rebels hold the town. There went my trip to that city planned for Wednesday. During lunch at the Carters, word came that the Foreign Minister wanted to see me urgently at my house. So left the party. The Chinese Chargé Affaires also wanted to see me.
Bonilla Lara came promptly and asked me in the name of the government to mediate the present difficulties.
After long discussion it was agreed that he would sound out the leaders of all three parties to see whether they were near enough agreement to give reasonable assurance of a successful mediation and whether they would accept my good offices. He had already said that a substantial number of Congressmen and the President wanted me. He was also to try to find out from opposition leaders whether or not Figueres would come in. He had proposed a mediation of the political impasse, leaving the military at one side, but explained that the two cannot be divorced at this late date. The Chinese wanted to sound me out on the same project. Triends in the government had told me of the proposal in the hope that he would sound ne out and report back but Bonilla got to me first. couple of hours later while was at the office drafting a cable to the Department, Bonilla came again. He could assure me that the parties were agreeable, but could not speak for Figueres and nobody knew how to get in touch with him.
At the request of the President, he asked me to go to see Figueres. After some discussion of just what could propose to him agreed to go, tell him the goverment desire, and offer to escort an authorized representative to San José to take part in discussions. sent a message to Millsvile that would go there tomorrow and wanted to see