REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Inhz By ML, NARS Cate 2498 Desp. No. 323 American Embassy, San José, June 30, 1948.
CONFIDENTIAL plete abandon following Picado departure, so much so that even the plumbing fixtures must be replaced.
In connection with Dr. Calderon remark concerning the refusal of one member of the electoral board to sign its decision which in itself constituted in his mind proof of fraud, it may be said that the person concerned, Lic.
Max Koberg, was under personal obligation to Dr. Calderon who had valiantly fought the exclusion of Koberg name from the Proclaimed List during the world war. It has been said on presumably reliable authority that Koberg dissenting opinion was prepared by Lic. Luis Anderson and Manuel Mora. Even his remark concerning opposition deputies who voted to nullify the elections cannot bear examination; no opposition de puties so yoted, but on the contrary four members of Dr. Calderon party, the National Republican voted with the opposition de puties while others were prevented by force from appearing at the congressional session.
Dr. Calderon further states in his conversation with Mr. Armour that the Figueres forces were composed ningty per cent of mercenario aries, including Guatemalang, Nicaraguans Hondurans, Dominicans, and Venezuelans. That this is a gross exaggeration is, of course, known to the Department.
Figueres did have the services of a small and vitally important group of trained officers of various nationalities, but on the whole his forces were composed of residents of the area of the uprising and persons of similar political faith from other areas in Costa Rica who flooked to his banner. It may be pointed out at this point that at least Calderon did not have the presumption to bring in the fact that he and his brother had actively negotiated for help to be accorded by Somoza through the sending or a large Nicaraguan force into their own country.
Furthermore, while Calderon reference to the secret agreement with Manuel Mora has already been covered, his statements that Mora will return within a short period and resume political activity with Figueres! blessing and that his followers, contrary to the treatment accorded those of Calderon, have not been persecuted, does not appear to be borns out by presently existing facts. Not only has Mora been spelled from the country but the leaders of the Vanguard. a Popular have almost in their entirety been detained by the police; the radio station mecos de 561 has been olosed and in a large part dismantled; their organization is disrupted; their weekly news paper is being published only clandestinely; and, in general, it is apparent that very determined efforts are being made to wipe out militant communism as represented by Vanguardia Popular. Once conditions CONFIDENTIAL