HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS MEMORANDUM OF CONVENSATION called on the President at p. today and apologized for intruding for knew he was very busy. remarked that had pending a request to see him to discuss fisheries but that matter could wait until he had more leisure. However, a matter had now arisen of some delicacy which thought in his interest as well as mine to discuss quite frankly. said had received a telegran from the Department informing me that Ambassador Esquivel had informally consulted the Department regarding the appointment of Frank Marshall as Consul General in New York. The Department asked two things of me. 1) the reason for this proposed appointment and (2) my comments. said did not know what was behind the Department inquiry but thought could assume that it was a little concerned at the prospect of being asked for an exequatur. The President broke in and asked Because of his German Nationality? replied that it was not so much a question of nationality but possibly because of Marshall well known pro Nazi sympathies all the way through the war. said he was a hard core Proclaimed List case and the Department might feel some hesitation in granting an exequatur to a person in that position while at the same time it would feel considerable embarrassment in refusing an exequatur for anyone requested by the Costa Rican Government. added that presuning on our personal friendship would add that thought the President himself should feel some concern lest Marshall become involved in a scandalous scene in New York such as he has engaged in here in the presence of members of my staff and such a scandal would not do Costa Rica reputation any good, The President replied that he was very much worried about Marshall drinking and he would tell me the whole story because it shows how childish Marshall is and ab the same time under what pressure he is to grant Marshall request.
He said Marshall has fought valiantly three times for the present government and is somewhat of a hero in government circles. He said everybody has been coming to him on larshall behalf urging the appointment as Consul General. He had finally given in to this pressure although he had not wanted to do so. He said Marshall has assured