DECLASSIRED Authority Stateletter Inha REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Desp. No. 323 American Embassy, San José, June 30, 1948.
CONFIDENTIAL Security will be maintained by Lic. don Miguel Brenes Gutierrez in whom you have confidence; and that the Ministry of Labor, if not kept in the hands of Mr. Brenes, will be given to a citizen who is a friend of your party which will be duly consulted. Moreover, the letter said that the incoming government wished to call upon the collabo. ration of Manuel Mora in the elaboration of a new constitution and we are not a reactionary movement nor do we hold any prejudices against you. On the contrary, we believe that the bloody struggle which is being carried on by your forces and ours is not justified if we can bring about through an honorable and tacit collaboration the realization of the deepest aspirations of our laboring class and for our people.
For reasons of a political nature which you will realize we urge that you consider this last document private.
The existence of this letter presumably remains secret and it was not disclosed to the members of the diplomatio moup which participated in the mediation. Without attemping to seek an excuse for it, the remark may be made in passing that in view of the internal conditions existing at the particular moment when large numbers of arms were still in the hands of the Vanguardistas and the populous was in a state of virtual terror because of their actions, it may have been justified. It is apparent that it has not been carried into effect. Brenes did not join the new government, Manuel Mora has been exiled, other leaders of his party have been jailed, and there is no ir this is but a temporary situation. Various moves which have restricted the activities of former Vanguardia leaders have already been reported and the efforts destined to the eradication of Vanguardia as a militant force and perhaps as a political element have continued unabated.
The Department is, of course, aware from other despatches from this Embassy and from the missions in Central America and the Caribbean area that an understanding of some nature apparently exists between Figueres and certain revolutionary elements based on obligations contracted when the Figueres forces were furnished arms. That any broad understanding exists between Figueres, Mora, Arevalo, and Betar murt, and possibly Arnulfo Arias, is a matter of conject which may be proved or disproved in the course of time. There are certain indications that at least a tacit understanding may exist between Figueres and Arevalo, but it is believed that with the passage of time Costa Rican participation therein has become weaker and weaker.
With regard to Dr. Calderon allegation of the seizure CONFIDENTIAL