818.6363 Am 6/66: Telegram
The Chargé in Costa Rica (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 27—11:55 a.m.]
22. President of Congress today informed me that agreement signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs and British Minister would be repudiated by Congress. Ex-President of the Republic Gonzalez Flores called to inform me he intended urging Congress to repudiate agreement. Both were most anxious to obtain assurance that the United States would uphold Costa Rica in the difficulties which might result with Great Britain.
Both pointed out that Amory concession was obtained where Americans were restrained from entering Costa Rican field and classified methods employed in obtaining it as notoriously fraudulent. President of Congress stated that concession was obtained under American incorporation by direction of British backers and that tenor of British Minister’s notes indicates this procedure to have been adopted as a wartime policy by Great Britain to avoid attracting American attention.
They likewise state that it is highly improper to allow any foreign arbiter to pass judgment on interpretation of Costa Rican Constitution.