Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The American Republics, Volume IV

Miller files, lot 53 D 26, “Costa Rica”

Memorandum of Conversation, by John L. Ohmans ¹ of the Office of Middle American Affairs

secret

[Washington,] March 21, 1952.

Subject:

• Costa Rica’s desire to negotiate a Bilateral Military Assistance Agreement.

• Participants: Señor Don J. Rafael Oreamuno, Ambassador of Costa Rica
• Colonel Manuel Ventura, Military Secretary to the President
• ARA—Mr. Miller
• MID—Mr. Ohmans

The Ambassador called at his request to introduce Colonel Ventura, the Military Secretary to President Ulate and to discuss Costa Rica’s desire to negotiate a Bilateral Military Assistance Agreement with the United States.

After commenting on the impressive ceremony at Arlington Cemetery where Colonel Ventura laid a wreath, and also upon the accident of President Ulate in the morning, the Ambassador inquired whether Mr. Miller knew of the note² which the Costa Rican Foreign Minister³ had delivered to Ambassador Fleming concerning the Costa Rican desire for a military agreement. Mr. Miller said that he was familiar with the Costa Rican aspirations, but in all frankness he said that the United States could not take such an action at this time. He explained that in reality the United States and the Costa Ricans were talking about two different things when speaking about the proposed pact. He assumed that Costa Rica was principally interested in developing its force for the maintenance of internal security. He contrasted that desire with the agreements with such countries as Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Cuba for the preparation of forces to handle definite larger responsibilities with respect to the defense of the continent. Mr. Miller said for example that this included anti-aircraft battalions and air squadrons for missions outside their own countries.

However, Mr. Miller was happy to state that as a result of Costa Rica’s request, the Departmental officials had been studying very seriously steps which could be taken to help Costa Rica, and he understood that it was possible for the Western Arms Co. to facilitate the purchase by Costa Rica of ammunition at a substantially lower price than had previously been offered.…

The discussion then turned to congressional legislation on the Inter-American Highway. Mr. Miller pointed out that progress thus far was quite satisfactory, and while it was not thought likely that the $8,000,000 a year would be authorized for the highway construction, it might well be that $6,000,000 would be approved by the congressional leaders. Ambassador Oreamuno was very pleased to hear this information and told Mr. Miller of Costa Rica’s desire to accelerate construction work on the northern part of the highway, and affirmed once again that Costa Rica would put in $700,000 as its matching funds share for the construction work.

After the meeting the Ambassador and Colonel Ventura went to Mr. Ohmans’ office where they were joined by Mr. Spalding. Mr. Spalding said that the Western Arms Co. was prepared to sell the Costa Rican Government the ammunition at a price considerably lower than the price which had been quoted by the Department of the Army. This news was received with much gratification by the Ambassador. In response to Mr. Spalding’s request Ambassador Oreamuno promised to supply him with an exact list of the amounts of ammunition desired by his government.

1. Costa Rican Desk Officer.
2. Reference is to Costa Rican Foreign Office note no. DM/542–B, dated Mar. 11, 1952; a copy and translation of the note were transmitted to the Department of State under cover of despatch 1019, from San José, dated Mar. 13, 1952, not printed (718.5 MSP/3–1352).
3. Fernando Lara Bustamente.