HARRY TRUMAN LIBRARY Papers of NATHANIEL DAVIS. 2assured him of desire to hold the position for only two months. That is another reason why the appointment was opposed because he did not want to send any two month conguls. He wanted to develop a career service and break a Costa Rican tradition that consulates are gifts handed out by the administration as a reward for services. He said Marshall real reason for wanting the job is because he wants to go to New York to seek a reconciliation with his wife. He would like to have the government pay for the trip and believes two months would be sufficient to accomplish his purpose. Furthermore, he wants to go holding a high position from the government in order to convince his wife that he has indeed and has the confidence of the highest official in Costa Rica. The President said this was a silly reason but that is the way Marshall mind works.
He then asked if would give Marshall a visa. said that, of course, we would give a visa to anyone whose passport showed that he had been appointed Consul General byt the visa wou od not necessarily mednan exequatur. The Presidentsaid what he really meant was would we give him a visa in some other capacity. He went on to say that he might offer Marshall some high sounding title such as Inspector of the Delegation of the UN (explaining the background to Cañas) as this would justify salary and travel expenses for Marshall and conform with his wish to show his wife an important appointment. said that under the regulations really should withhold action on the visa application from a hard core Proclaimed List person and consult the Department but in the circumstances if Marshall passport should be recalled and amended to show some such new title would take it upon myself to grant the visa immediately and explain to the State Department why had done 80.
The President thanked me and said he would send for Marshall and explain that some technical difficulties had arisen in connection with the proposal to appoint him Consul General. He thought he would say that it would not be politic for Costa Rica to send someone with Marshall German background before peace has been signed between the United States and Germany and thereupon offer him some other fancy title.
San José, April 6, 1949.
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