REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECLASSIFIED Authority Statele fer hr öy Me NART Date 24981 THE FOREIGN SERVICI OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA No. 138 RESTT ICT can Ebassy SUBJECT: M, ce: April 7, 1949 lations, UIPARIMINI OF STATE OFFICE OF AMERICAN REPUBLIC AFFAIRS APR 13 1949 REC APR. ACTION ARA THE HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE, VASHTI GTON.
INFO DOR OLI SIR: have the honor to report that the DIARIO DE COSTA RICA for April featured certain remarks made by President Figueres during the course of an interview with a Spanish newspaperman, Carlos Sáenz de la Calzada, which, it states, were printed in EL NACIONAL of Caracas, Ven.
ezuela. It headlines the statement allegedly made by Mr. Figueres to the effect that he belongs to the National Union Party. The interviewer comment upon this remark is stated to have been: This revelation made for the first time by Figueres, was absolutely unforeseen and is really sensational. What will be the opina ion of Ulate, president and undisputed leader of the Party be with regard to this new and dangerous acquisi.
tion? The writer then comments that in subsequent dis.
cussions with outstanding political personages in Costa Rica, he learned that no one hed even imagined the new political connection of the President.
818. 00 749 Following up the foregoing LA PRENSA LIBRE for April published an interview with Mr. Figueres on the subject in which he is quoted Wify thoughts on the subject were faithfully quoted. belong and will continue belonging to the National Union Party. It is also a fact that at the outset. was active in the Social Democratic Party from which wichdrew after my exile irom the country and the protracted absence which it occasioned. consider that the latter Party is composed of a group of highly appreciated citizens who through their civic efforts have demonstrated their robust moral fiber. admire and appreciate then because they have not turned politics into a play of bastardly interests, but have made it an outstanding school of civism and have shown their desire to render service in what they have considered best for the Republic and its institutions, ally joining the NESTRICTED APR 18 1949 FILED ACTION COPY RETURN TO DO FLIES WITEIN 14 DAYS, WITH NOTATION OF ACTION TA