HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS Ending to 13 EXTRACT FROM MY DIARY April 19, 1948 After the usual delays, this morning meeting of the Committee which was to have started at got under way late in the morning. Padre Nunez started to read a memorandum setting forth Figueres position which was discussed point by point between him on the one hand.
and the President, his advisors, and Mora on the other.
Dr. Calderon had begged off attendance on the ground of an attack of sinus as a possible indication that he may have been telling the truth this time, recall that he was sniffing a menthol capsule throughout yesterday negotiations. and had sent Carlos Manuel Escalante to represent him. Escalante stated that as he had not been in on any of the other negotiations, his position was that of an observer. Everyone jumped on this and said if he was representing Calderon he would have to speak for him.
The points in the memorandum were essentially those explained to us the previous night by Figueres at his headquarters. When the point of a new Secretary of Public Security was reached and the name of Miguel Brenes Gutierrez was mentioned, all concerned agreed and Brenes was sent for Discussions of the points proceeded without any serious disagreement. When Brenes came in thesPrestie dent said he was here and now appointing him Secretary of Public Security and Brenes made a little speech accepting and aaying he would do his best. The President said that the Minister of Government would arrange for censorship of the press and radio in order to prevent tendentious statements and he assumed that as soon as the new cabinet is formed it would decide how long that censorship should be maintained. The meeting then adjourned in order that Mora, Quesada, and Padre Nunez might draft a formal agreement between the Government and the Army of National.
Liberation with the Chilean giwing in as advisor on dipbomatic phraseology.
We resumed after lunch and the memorandum which had been prepared in final form was read. Objection was taken to a couple of minor points and the President pointed out that in