HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS the manufacture of bombs for the government.
Incidentally, he said that his house has been placed under the protection of the Salvadoran Legation though just what the connection is with Salvador, do not know. He said that this: morning at 5, Lopez Masegosa, who had not been around for several days, came in in a state of excitement, got them out of bed, and told them at 10 a. this morning San José was going to be destroyed. He said he had learned that the government and some of the party leaders were arranging to surrender. He was in command of the airport with a group of men loyal to him who would fight to the last ditch as to surrender would certainly mean to be shot. He had 73 five hundred pound bombs (origin unstated) and plenty of bombs and hand grenades of his own manufacture. The only reason he had not already dropped them on San José was the cloudy weather but by 10 the sun probably would be out and then he would let loose. At the same time groups of his men would set fire to all of the banks and a number of private houses of which he.
had a list. Limosner and Lopez Ma segosa wife had been trying to calm him down and he finally said that the only person whom he would listen in the matter was the Mexican Ambassador because of his gratitude to Mexico for having sheltered him and his companions after the fall of the Spanish Republic, While we considered that the story probably was considerably exaggerated, we felt that there probably was imminent danger of a very serious incident considering the known irrational character of Lopez Ma segosa.
We, therefore, determined to summon him to the Embassy and Mr. Limosner was despatched in the Mexican Embassy car, accompanied by a Secretary of that Embassy, to fetch him. few moments later, the Secretary telephoned from the airport that Lopez Masegosa would be at the Embassy at 10:30. In the meantime, the President and Bonilla Lara had arrived. We told them of the foregoing and it was decided that when Lopez Masegosa arrived, we would bring him before the entire assembled company. While waiting for him appointments were made for Manuel Mora to come at ll and Dr. Calderon Guardia to come at 11:15.
Lopez Masegosa