REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority State Letter Whz by me, NARS Cato 24981 acl. 1, Desp. 218 San José, hay 5, 1948. 2CONFIDENTIAL into any feasible arrangement. He said, however, that he would not accept office in the Junta to be established on May 8, remarking that military juntas and military rule of all types are looked up greatest of misgivings and fear by Costa Ricans. He said if a junta is necessary it should limit its stay in office to the absolute minimum, and continued by stating that he also felt he could not share what he understood were the international military obligations of the Figueres group, resulting from their having obtained arms in Guatemala.
He said that the success of the armed uprising frankly took him completely by surprise since during the period following Figueres and a few companions taking leave from him shortly before the Valverde house was besieged he had no contaat with Figueres. When they left he thought that Figueres and his group were very poorly armed and would probably be annihilated by the government. He said it was for this reason that he had engaged in all of the politioal maneuvers of that time, looking towards a compromise agreement since he was unaware that Figueres had received help from Arevalo. This very help be said brought attendant con plications, and he was utterly opposed to any intervention by Costa Rioa in the internal affairs of other countries. He said Figueres had told him that he was obligated only to return the arms which he had obtained from Arevalo, adding somewhat thereto, and to provide him a discreet and hidden spot from which operations could be based. He said Figueres had consulted him regarding the partioipation of Costa Rioan volunteers on the side of the forces determined upon the overthrow of Somoza, and that he had indicated his unalterable opposition to any active participation by Costa Rican foroos, stating only that individual Costa Ricans who were so inspired by their dislike of diatatorship as to wish to align themselves with the forces opposed to Somoza might possibly do so.
He went on to say that he was extremely perturbed by the presenoo in the Costa Rioan Gonoral Staff of foreign officers, naming apooifioally Colonel Ramírez, the Chief of the General Start who he said is a Dominioan.
He said Ramirez would. Tory shortly resign (he resigned on May 1) and prooeed to Guatemala, most probably in connection with ooordinating plans for the proposed uprising in Nicaragua. He also mentioned the presence or General Juan Rodriguez: who he said has made his headquarters in the Madrigal house in Escazú (whioh the Ambassador already know. a veritable armed general staff from where he plays, or attempts to play, an important part CONFIDENTIAL