REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIHED Authority Stateletter Whe By ML, NARS Date 24581 Despatch no. 63, CONFIDENTIAL February 10, 1949, San José, Costa Rica American Embassy, Page XR 717. 18 be invaded. Referring in this connection to a purported interview by Picado and Somoza in Managua, he stated that even before this event and due to rumors that Somoza was disposed to aid the Costa Rican government, his party had sent a letter to the President indicating that any interference by Somoza in the conflict. would be considered by it as an attack against ito. Later, Mora claims, the Vanguardia Popular requested the expulsion from the country of 70 Guardia Nacional who had arrived to take part in the fighting. He said it was perhaps for this reason the President had consulted then regarding the trip during which he conferred with Somoza. He added that Picado arrived in Managua by special. plane and found that Somoza was not awaiting him alone but in the company of the Charge of the United States in Nicaragua, Mr. Berbane (I am not sure of the spelling of this name. In the presence of Berbane sic Somoza told Teodoro these words which reproduce from memory and which. later heard repeated by the same Picado: will give you arms but before doing so you must order Minister. Urcuyo to sign this letter. The letter was already drawn up and was a request for help from Somoza to defend Costa Rica against. Figueres and communism. Teodoro refused to give the order despite Somoza promise that he would not shoot Mora. nor his friends but would limit himself to placing them in a concentration camp. 91 Mora. said that, having returned to Costa Rica, Presidnet Picado, informed his cabinet of what had taken place and that Mr. Zuñiga Montufar, the Minister of Labor, had informed him (Mora) whereupon he immediately visited the Casa Presidencial where Picado confirmed the statements which he had given above.
As the communications sent to the Department during that period show, there is no evidence that Picado made a trip to Managua. There is certainly no evidence that Somoza made the statements attributed to him in the presence of Mr. Bernbaum. The intervention of the Nicaraguan forces was, arranged at an interview between Picado and other members of his group and representatives of Somoza in Puntarenas and Paco Calderon was authorized in writing by Picado to take such steps, as might be necessary. Either Moralg memory is exceedingly bad or his mind is failing or typical of the viewpoint of so many exiles, he may now firmiy believe in the fantasy which he con jured up either deliberately or through lack of adequate information.
His Negotiations with Father Nufíez, Mora explained as an attempt to obtain. guarantees for the working class.
Vanguardia Popular would not otherwise disarm, thus signifying a continuation of the civil war which would en tail serious international consequences for Costa Rica.
was during CONFIDENTIAL