HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL P, DAVIS for the President we had suggested to Nunez, that the first proclamation of the new administration promiseXto observe the constitution, retian in effect the social legislation. and promise to meet all international engagements and treaties. He readily agreed to all.
When we zeassembled in the afternoon, Esquivel was present and explained that Herrera is unavilable as he is behind the Figueres lines. As we did not dare to mention names on the radio phone for fear of a premature disclosure, it was necessary that Nunez return to Cartago to report on his mission and take Esquivel with him, armed with a letter from the President to Herrera in order that he might be persuaded to go along with the agreement. Nunez thought this plan would be agreeable to Figueres as Herrera would in any event be no more than a figuerehead while he could assume the post of Minister of Public Security and control the government and the country.
There were inexplicable delays in getting an escort for us, sending out a cease fire order, etc. Finally an escort arrived, but it either mistook or deliberately twisted its orders and took off for Tres Rios without waiting for us. The Nuncio, Nunez, and all became indignant and said we would not go without the escort, especially as it was almost dark. The President spoke up and said he was a man of honor; he had promised an escort and since the men he had ordered for that duty had disappeared, he would escort us himself. After some discussion we accepted. He started off in a car with two armed guards and the three of us and my chauffeur followed in mine. We drove fast in order to reach the lines before dark. Short ctly before Tres Rios the President car had two flat tires and at the same time we developed a slow heak. Abandoning his car and guards, the President got in the front seat of mine, sitting rather crowded with the chauffeur and Esquivel and thus we passed through the troops concentrated at Tres Rios and to the last outpost.
The President left us there and we proceeded alone to the Figueres outpost a couple of miles farther on. While we chatted with the group which met us there, Ismael changed the tire. Like ours of the morning and the two on the President car, it had a large sharp hook through it.
Evidently they have been strewn on the road. By the time the tire was changed it was quite dark and we proceeded slowly to the government lines. The President was standing out in