REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Stateletter Inhz 61 meNIRI Oate 24 18 Despatch no. 63, February 10, 1949, American Embassy, San José, Costa Rica Page CONFIDENTIAL was during these conversations when the Yankee Ambassador informed us that the Guardia Nacional forces had crossed into Costa Rican territory. Mora continued that in the presence of the Ambassadors. then present and Picado, he had stated more or less as follows: let everyone here know and request that Father Nuñez infor Mr. Figueres that if the Guardia Nacional continues to advance into Costa Rican territory, my party is resolved to make a common front with the Figuerista army to expel it from our country. It was that same evening that my interview with representatives of the Figueres army took place on the road to Cartago.
Mora position with regard to the invasion of Costa Ricà by Guardia Nacional forces and his statements that he would make common cause with Figueres were reported to the Department at the time.
With regard to the Ochomongo conference with Figueres or his, representatives, Mora said it resulted in the guarantees. accorded the working class through Vanguardia Popular. They were drawn, up and signed the following day and brought to the attention of the diplomatic corps by Father Nuñez. This special document was referred to in Article VI of the capitulation arrangements and just and justified the step taken to disarm the Vanguardia Popular forces.
The arms which were deposited in the CTCR headquarters, Mora states, were later seized by Vanguardistas when it became apparent that they were being persecuted by the government. This was made possible through an error of the government in leaving the arrs there rather than placing them under safe keeping elsewhere. The arms were used in various shooting episodes which took place at that time in and about the city. Mora said he was then called upon again by Mr. Brenes, the Minister of Public Security in the interval between the downfall of Picado and the advent of the Figueres government, to aid him again in disarming his people which he succeeded in doing, thus fulfilling his. pledged word. He added that similar orders had been given the Vanguardia Popular forces. elsewhere throughout the country to deposit their arms with the government but.
that naturally it had not been possible to exercise the same control. He said the most important thing was the disarming in San José since it permitted the Figueristas freely to enter the city, thus preventing further bloodshed.
He stated that the fact that small deposits of arms found at various places about the country does not in any way prove non fullllment of the pact by the Vanguardia Popular. ca but everything indicates that there is no interest in clarifying this point. They sought any pretext whatever violating a pact of honor. This is very deplorable because if the pact made in the Mexican Embassy should have been fulfilled CON FIDENTIAL