617.18/8–654
The Ambassador in Costa Rica ( Hill ) to the Department of State
No. 91
Subject:
- Warning to President Figueres on Foreign Adventures
It is quite likely that the Department or the Embassy will receive some sort of note of thanks from the Costa Rican government if the present difficulties with Nicaragua are satisfactorily settled. It is the Embassy’s opinion that in answering such a note a polite warning be given President Figueres in event his scheming mind is thinking up any additional foreign adventures.
It does not seem too far out of line to point out to Figueres that the United States unhesitatingly sided with Costa Rica—a model democracy with no standing army—when it appeared there was danger of undue pressure being exerted from outside. Thanks to the cooperation of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, an amicable settlement was reached.
It could be pointed out, however, that the United States is fully aware of the personal animosity that exists between Presidents Figueres and Somoza and that such feelings are hard to hide. Nevertheless, it would be hoped that President Figueres would contribute to hemispheric peace by restricting his verbal and written attacks and maintaining a close watch on Nicaraguan exiles to prevent a recurrence of the April assassination plot against Somoza.
A note of this content, diplomatically worded, would be valuable as a record of mild reproof toward the Costa Rican government for having permitted—to put it mildly—the preparation of the plot against Somoza. Furthermore, it might act as a deterrent against further adventures of this type by don Pepe. In event another plot were hatched on Costa Rican soil the United States, if it felt that Figueres merited no further support, need only make the note public to indicate that Figueres had been warned in advance to refrain from meddling in the affairs of other countries.
The Embassy feels that the presentation of a note of this nature to the Costa Rican government is advisable and if the Department concurs, preparation should be undertaken by the Department. With Venezuela in mind, perhaps the admonition might be made more [Page 858] general, but it is believed such a note would lose its force vis-à-vis the Costa Rican-Nicaraguan situation.
In event no note of thanks is received we should send a warning to Figueres.1
First Secretary
- No indication of the action taken on the Embassy’s recommendation was found in Department of State files.↩