HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY NATHANIEL P, DAVIS Pappers Enel EXTRACT FROM MY DIARY April 16, 1948 This morning the Nuncio and made our regular trip to the Figueres lines to pick up Padre Nunez. We brought Mr. Murray back with us. He had walked by back trails.
from San José to his farm near Cartago to check and the Padre had suggested he come back with us. He was most happy at the chance of a lift.
After delivering Padre Nunez at the Mexican Embassy, we went to the Nunciatura to a meeting of the full Corps called at the request of the Argentine Minister to receive a report of our activities to date. After a long verbal report, the Argentine said he thought we had gone off on the wrong track; after our first meeting with Figueres we should have reported back to the Corps and taken its instructions as to our next move. The Mexican got mad and offered to resign from the Committee if it (the Corps) did not have confidence in us. The upshot was that the Colombian Minister proposed a vote of thanks to the Committee which, after amendment to include felicitations, was passed by everyone present but the Argentine.
After a quick lunch we reassembled at the Mexican Embassy. Word came that the President and 14 ore would be a little late as they had had to fly to Puntarenas. Mora had been with them but returned ahead. They finally arrived about six. While we were waiting, word came of the violent search of the San Juan de Dios Hospital by armed men who fired their rifles, kicked in doors, and caused a panic; finally taking all the doctors and all the orderlies off to the penitentiary. We appealed to Mora to do something about it, not that anyone could undo what had been done, but at least the doctors could be released and the guards removed so that people could enter and leave.
All he would do was promise to use his influence but said we should report to the President. little later the Brazilian Minister arrived and said Mariachis had attempted to break into his Legation. They forced the gate and came into the garden but retired when he told them the house was a Legation.
When finally the President came and we were all assembled, said that before proceeding to consider the main subject, thought something should be done about the hospital. We had been told it was an isolated incident of vandalism