Desp. No. 183 American Embassy, San José, April 19, 1948.
CONFIDENTIAL to 1, 733 in the majority report and to 1, 696 in the dissenting opinion of the new Tribunal, it is quite evident that both the majority report as well as the dissenting opinion, managed to lose well ver 10, 000 votes cast in favor of the Opposition during their labors. It is generally believed that the dissenting opinion was prepared for the mere purpose of attempting to show a difference of criterion among the Tribunal members. Since this dissenting opinion, however, awards a total of 25 seats to the National Republicans instead of the 23 which it is conceded as having se oured. legitima tely and awards a total of seats to Vanguardia instead of the which it secured legitimately, the fore going becomes more obvious.
Presently all political effort is of course centered upon the basic question of some political arrangement aco ptable to both sides and which will be the first stepping stone towards a return to normaloy and will terminate the present threat to life and property. Once such an arrange ment has been reached, however, it is quite certain that the Opposition will not accept the Tribunal verdict and that the question will become a further bone of contention.
Respectfully yours, For the Ambassador. Alex Cohen American Vice Consul 800 Andohen;mjr Enolosures: 1. Translation, LA GACETA, Translation, LA GACETA: Copies to Central American Missions.
Apr II 18. 1828.
ONIT CONFIDENTIAL