DECLASSIFIED REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Authority State beter mhz B; ML, NARA Cate 2498 Desp. NO. 323 American Embassy, San José, June 30, 1948 CONFIDENTIAL seizure of the personal property of his friends, comment will be made at a later point in this despatch.
Calderon statement in point of the memorandum of conversation of May 24 that young and incompetent persons have been placed in important government. posts and have taken advantage of their positions to persecute the adherents of Calderon Guardia and Picado, contains a certain element of truth. It would be unnatural to suppose that given the state of feelings which developed during the course of the civil war and which have roots extending long into the past, some of those now in power should not utilize their positions to obtain a certain measure of vengeance. On the whole, however, such actions as have taken place have been open and based upon governmental decrees such as those instituting a list of intervened persons and freezing their funds and properties. On the other band, while a good many of the members of the incoming government are patently young and in all probability inexperienced, the situation is changing from day to day. much pressure was exerted upon Figueres to include these persons in his government can only be the subioot of conjectures, but it is to be presumed that in the full Plush of victory and before conditions had in any way been stabilized, the younger and more exuberant element sur rounding him was able to obtain certain positions of real importance. Already, however, the secretary general of the Junta, Rosendo Arguello, has been divested of his position and the young and impe tuous Frank Marshall (Steinvorth)
has resigned as Chief of Staff. Other changes strengthening and harmonizing the government will undoubtedly take place as it is apparent from observation that Figueres is himself a person of rigid principles and a certain solemnity and grimness in his approach to the problems with which the government is faced.
With regard to the June memorandum of conversation between Norman Armour and Dr. Calderon, it may be stated that the description given by Dr. Calderon of activities of the Figueres government in jailing, killing, and seizure of the personal property of adherents of Calderon Guardia, is grossly exaggerated. Persons have been detained but in many cases their names have been made public; the Em bassy unaware of any killing which may be attributed direct. y to this reason; and, while certain private possessions such as furniture, eto have been removed from the house of Dr. Calderon, they were quite openly taken to the headquarters of the security police. There would be some justification in their utilization in refurnishing the presidential residence which was left in a state of complete CONFIDENTIAL