GEL HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS Enel 89 EXTRACT FROM MY DIARY Sunda April 18, 1948 The Nuncio and made our daily trip to the Figueres lines this morning and brought Padre. Nunez to the Mexican Embassy. The whole group was to meet at ten.
Shortly after our arrival Andy came in with a copy of Bernbaum telegram of last night quoting Somoza statement that he had occupied strategic positions in Costa Rica with the knowledge and at the request of this government. showed it to all of my diplomatic colleagues and we decided to say nothing about it until all were assembled. The President, although he had agreed to be present at ten, did not show up until after twelve and, after conferring privately with Mora, Claderon, and Padre Nunez, left. When the whole group gathered and we found the President missing, the diplomats insisted that he be called back, saying that a new factor had arisen which was of such a nature that it was essential that he be present.
Bonilla Lara was loathe to fetch him, but finally did so on our insistance, reporting that he had been lunching with his officers. As soon as the whole group was togehter; consisting of the five diplomats, the President, Santos Leon, Bonilla Lara, Maximo Quesada, Fernando Esquivel.
Calderon Guardia, Mora, and Padre Nunez, stated that some four hours previously had received a telegram from our Chargé Affaires in Managua which contained information of such a nature and of such gravity that we felt that all parties interested in the present negotiations should know of it. asked the Mexican Ambassador to read that portion of Bernbaum telegram consisting of verbatim quotation from Somoza note. After the reading said all would appreciate that this information put a new light on our local problem. As representatives of the Diplomatic Corps we had been trying to find a basis for internal peace in Costa Rica. Now, as representatives of members of the Pan American family of nations, we were anxious to maintain the peace of the Americas. In view of the whole American system and our various treaty obligations, all of the American Republics would take a most serious view of the invasion of one American country by another. Without even con sulting our governments we were sure that none of the American governments would allow such a breach of the peace and would know how to punish those responsible. It was, therefore, necessary for us to know whether or not Somoza statement was true.
The President