Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

CR–29. Briefing Paper Prepared by the Officer in Charge of Costa Rican Affairs (Feldman)¹

Washington, November 21, 1960

SUBJECT

• COSTA RICA : Nicaraguan Insurgent Activities on Costa Rica-Nicaraguan Border, early November, 1960

Chronology

On November 9, a senior officer of the Costa Rican Civil Guard was captured by Nicaraguan rebels when a small Civil Guard detachment he led went to investigate the reported presence of an insurgent group in northwest Costa Rica near the Nicaraguan border. A reinforced Civil Guard detachment effected his release that same day by capturing the rebel camp but all the rebels escaped. President Echandi reportedly ordered the Civil Guard to pursue and liquidate the rebel groups. The Costa Rican Government, as a precautionary measure also ordered the temporary detention, pending deportation, of several prominent Nicaraguan opposition leaders who were living in exile in San Jose and who were considered to be actively involved in this invasion attempt. On November 11, a Civil Guard patrol was ambushed by a rebel group in the course of which the Director General of the Civil Guard was killed.² Five prisoners, all Nicaraguans, were taken and flown to San Jose for interrogation. Costa Rican authorities in the border area reported that four low flying unidentified aircraft dropped supplies to the Nicaraguans insurgents in the build-up area early in the morning of November 12 but this report was not confirmed by our Chief of the Army Mission,³ who was in the area as an observer.

The Government of Costa Rica, alarmed by conflicting and confusing reports from the so-called battle front and the death of the Director General of the Civil Guard, interpreted the events of November 11–12 as portending an attack by an alleged Cuban force against the Government. In response to an official request for a helicopter to evacuate casualties, our Army Attaché⁴ received authority to utilize all Costa Rican based United States aircraft to evacuate casualties and army field rations from the Embassy commissary were sent to the troops in the field.⁵ A friend of the President approached Embassy officers in his behalf about 1:30 a.m. of the twelfth with news of heavy fighting on the border and requested United States air and naval patrols and other assistance.⁶ However, when subsequent developments that day made it clear that the rebels were all Nicaraguans intent on only invading Nicaragua and that they did not constitute a threat against the Costa Rican Government, no formal request for military assistance was made of the United States Government.

Our Army Mission Chief reported that the rebel group which numbered about forty men, all Nicaraguans, was now dispersed along the border by the patrol action of the Civil Guard.⁷ Although the Costa Rican Government instituted air search and has augmented the Civil Guard Patrols in the build-up area, no rebels have been found since the ambush of November 11. Our Army Mission Chief has also reported that as of November 14, he has found no evidence of Cuban weapons used by the rebels or of Cuban involvement in this attempted invasion of Nicaraguans.

President Echandi was informed by our Chargé on November 15 of the United States Government offer to help prevent the receipt by the rebels of supplies, especially from Cuba. President Echandi profoundly moved by this gesture, gratefully declined the offer since he believed that his Government had no need for air or sea patrols or other assistance at the present time.

Estimate of the Situation

The sensitivity of the Costa Rican Government to the possibility of a Cuban led attack against Costa Rica was made evident by the credence given at first to the unconfirmed reports of such an attack. These reports were subsequently proven unfounded.

It also showed how vulnerable and how unprepared the country is to repel a well organized attack if one were mounted in force at this time. The crack-down on Nicaraguans exiles who were engaged in plotting against Nicaragua and the Government’s threat to deport all exiles who engage in subversive activities in Costa Rica against another country are beneficial results of the unsuccessful invasion attempt.

Despite press reports alleging that Costa Rican Government sources claimed Cuban collaboration with the Nicaraguan rebels based in Costa Rica there is no evidence to date of Cuban involvement or that Cuban arms were in the possession of the rebels. The Costa Rican Government is in full control of the border situation and there is little likelihood of a resumption of hostilities. The prompt and aggressive action by the Civil Guard should reassure the Nicaraguan Government that it can count on the Costa Rican Government for support in suppressing a small Costa Rican-based aggressive revolutionary action against it.

1. Source: Department of State, OAP Files, Lot 63 D 127, “Costa Rica, 1960.” Secret. The source text is an unsigned carbon copy.
2. A Nicaraguan rebel band in a farm house on the northwestern Costa Rican frontier reportedly killed Lt. Col. Alfonso Monge about 8.30 p.m., November 11, 1960. (Desps. 301 and 341 from San José, November 18 and December 1, 1960; 718.00(w)/11–1860 and 718.00/12–160)
3. Col. Frederick J. Bailey, Jr.
4. Lt. Col. Spencer P. Edwards, Jr.
5. The Costa Rican Government asked Bailey and Edwards to make the Inter-American Geodetic Survey “aircraft available for removal of wounded and for liaison with the Costa Rican force headquartered at the town of Liberia, south of the Nicaraguan border. The Army Attaché received permissions from the Caribbean Command to use the aircraft as required.” (Memorandum by Roy I. Kimmel, Counselor, Embassy in Costa Rica, to the Department of State, November 15, 1960; 818.49/11–1560)
6. Manual Campos made the initial request. Subsequently on November 12, 1960, Foreign Minister Vargas and First Vice President José Joaquín Peralta Esquivel called Chargé Kimmel to the Presidential Palace and urgently asked for U.S. arms and support by sea and air. (Desp. 301 from San José, November 18, 1960/718.00(W)/11–1860)
7. On November 12, Bailey flew to Liberia, capital of Guanacaste Province, to investigate the situation. He reported that the rebels, not more than 40 Nicaraguan revolutionaries, had been dispersed. Vargas called the Chargé to say that Bailey’s report was correct and that no U.S. help would be needed. (Ibid.) Telegram 253 from San José, November 14, 1960 reported that “Bailey found no evidence Cubans involved or Cuban weapon used.” (717.00/11–1460)