REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Statele fer lahz.
By ML, NARA Date 2498 818. 00 548 REC MAY 13 San José, May 5, 1948.
ACTION ARA CONFIDENTIAL No. 218 UltiCE OF WERE REPORT AFFAIRS NRY 7 1948 SUBJECT: Conversation with Otilio Ulatom INO OM INC DC EUR ARMY NAVY CIA THE HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WASHINGTON.
SIR: With reference to my telegram 197 of May 2, 1948 containing a resume of a conversation on the previous day with Mr. Otilio ULATE, have the honor to enclose a memorandum of that conversation, giving the more important points in greater detail than was possible to Over in the telegram.
818. 00 548 As the Department is now aware from my telegram No. 199 of May 3, Mr. Ulate and Mr. Tisueres have reached an agreement intended to resolve some of the polltioal problems oreated by the overthrow of the Pioado government, and the question of the succession to the presidenoy. Whether Mr. Ulate will actually beoomo president at the end of the sighteen months period stipulated in the agreement, or an extension thereof, remains an open question. While it is diffioult adequately to measure the extent of Mr. Ulata present popularity in Tlow of the faot that there are of course no popular manifestations of Calderonista strength, it is believed that it may safely be said that Ulate is outstandingly popular at the moment.
While there is of course a great deal of popular acolaim for Figueres and he und oubtedly has a substantlal following, the general feeling is undoubtedly one of a desire for olvillan regime.
On the other hand, tho taot that the Figueres government has a military appearance is almost entirely fortuitous sinoo, neither he nor any of the persons in mediately surrounding him are aotually officers by training or long experianoe. However, possibly ponding a more completo return to normalay, the Figueres group malatains many of the trappings of militarism.
When he called upon me on the afternoon of May 3, 7 observed CONFIDENTIAL FAP ACTION COPY RETURN TO DO FILES WITHIN 14 DAYS, WITH NOTATION OF ACTION TAI