File No. 818.00/169
[Untitled]
San José, June 15, 1917, noon.
Your June 9, 3 p.m. Interview lasted half an hour; present Tinoco and Lara. Finality of decision of the President of the United States strongly emphasized. Copy of quoted portion of your telegram handed to Tinoco. He requested me to convey to the President through the Department that he still has highest regard for the President of the United States and for the country but that Costa Rica is rich and can sustain a Government without outside help; that recognition desirable but not necessary and that he was not begging for it; that as President he has support of the people, the ex-Presidents, and the Constitution, and that he will remain President for the full six years; that he has right and law on his side and would be committing treason to the people and the country to retire at the intimation of a foreign Power and that he will not do so except in the face of brute force.
Impression received was that expression of intention not to withdraw was sincere. Tinoco was penniless on assuming presidency, has no profession and is the kind that would hold on under the pretext of upholding national dignity but for no other real reason than means of support or opportunity for enrichment until forced out.
I conveyed knowledge of attitude of the United States to John Keith, Cleto González, Luis Anderson and Gaspar Otuno, a Spaniard, president of bank, highly respected, known as a man of independent [Page 328] conduct and expression. All these are of the opinion that Tinoco will not retire until himself convinced by compelling facts that impossible to go on.
Wednesday afternoon Tinoco summoned ex-Presidents, informed them of the nonrecognition and asked for suggestions as to formation advisory finance council to devise ways and means for maintaining Government in the face of nonrecognition. My information which so far is meager as to the matters discussed, is that suggested retirement not among them.