DECLASSIFIED REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Authority Stateletter Manz ML NARS Cate 2498 818. 00 3048 THE PORTION swick OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONFIDENTIAL REC MAY No. 209 American Embassy, San José, Costa Rica, April 30, 1948.
ACTION ARA SUBJECT: Current Political Situation.
AFFAIRS MAY 1948 INFO OCD FC DCR EURX ARMY NAVY CIA (Fill wise 818. 00 3048 THE HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
WASHINGTON.
SIR: have the honor to report that the present week has been employed by the new regime in initial organization and consolidation of its position. Acting President Santos LEON, as was to be expected, is being used as a mere rubber stamps for the purpose of giving the new administration constitutional legality. Mr. Figueres and his followers are running the country to all intents and purposes and evidently intend to continue doing so after May 8th when the Acting President automatically vacates office.
Meanwhile, it has become public knowledge that a sopious rift has arisen between the Figueres group and Mr.
Ulate. It is stated that the former invited Mr. Ulate to become a part of the Junta whioh is to govern the country temporarily from May 8th, pending the enactment of a new Constitution, Ulate, so far, has neither accepted, nor re fused, which in itself is an indication that all is not well within the Opposition. Enclosure No. is a translation of an Item which appeared in Ulata DIARIO DE COSTA RICA under date of April 27th, and enclosure No. is a translation of Mr. Ulate reply, published in the same paper under date of April 30th. His public acceptance of the suggestion that he bendeclared elected for the 1948 52 presidential periodo indicates that he is not in accord with the plans of the Figueres group as expressed by the latter in his broadcast of April 25th (Please refer to Enclosure to the Embassy despatch No. 203 of April 29.
1948. Armed forces of the new administration have been ene gaged in cleaning up roving bands of armed men in the moi outlying distriots. These bands are composed of partisen of the former administration who refused to turn in their arms. In these operations a number of men have been killed and wounded on both sides. Attempts to secure return of government arms and ammunition have so far met with questionable success. It is estimated that approximately 1, 000 to 1, 200 rilies and 20 machine guns and sub machine guns and an unde terminent amount of ammunition are still hidden in the possession CONFIDENTIAL ACTION COPY RETURN TO DO FILES WITHIN 14 DAYS, WITH NOTATION OF ACTION