REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Ihr meNARI Oata 2458 Desp. No. 209 American Embassy, San José, April 30, 1948.
CONFIDENTIAL 105 entire police force has been discharged in a body, their duties having been taken over in the interim by arned members of the Opposition pending the recruitment of a new force which is now commencing. Control of traffic at street intersections in San José is being quite creditably hanled by local boy scouts in the interim. As a result of placing firearms in the hands of untrained and inexperienced individuals, there is still sporadic nightly firing.
818. 100 The virtual expulsion of the principal communist leaders will force VANGUARDIA POPULAR to go underground. The new administration apparently does not realize that for years VANGUARDIA has prepared for just such a contingency by the careful training of junior leaders able to take over in an emergency such as the present. VANGUARDIA through the past eight years, has tasted too much of the fruits of victory to give up in discouragement and once the current flush of the initial victory by the Opposition is over it is bound to continue being a force to be counted with even though its activities may remain under cover for a long time to come.
Respectfully yours, For the Ambassador, Alez CohenAmerican Vioe. Consul 800 AACohen:mjr Enclosures: DIARIO DE COSTA RICA, April 27, 1948. DIARIO DE COSTA RICA, April 30, 1948. statement by Secretary of Public Security. Statements by Seoretary of Public Security.
Copies to Central American Missions.
CONFIDENTIAL