Office of the Historian

77. Memorandum of conversation, April 24, between Foreign Minister-designate Oduber and Edwin M. Martin1

April 24, 1962
[Facsimile Page 1]

SUBJECT

  • Incoming Orlich Government’s Attitude Toward Other Central American States

PARTICIPANTS

  • Daniel Oduber Quirós, Foreign Minister-Designate of Costa Rica
  • Mr. Edwin M. Martin, Assistant Secretary of State
  • Mr. Arturo Morales-Carrión—Deputy Assistant Secretary
  • Mr. V.P. Randolph III—Officer in Charge, Costa Rican Affairs
  • Mr. Sacha Volman—U.S. Member of Directorate of Institute of Political Education, San José, Costa Rica

SUMMARY

Oduber discussed the attitude of the incoming Orlich administration toward the Governments of Nicaragua and Guatemala and, in less detail Honduras and Panama. He also affirmed his government-to-be’s opposition to Fidel Castro.

Following discussion of another topic, Mr. Oduber reviewed the attitude of the National Liberation Party toward the governments of the other Central American countries. He states that the new ORLICH Government is watching events very closely in Nicaragua, whose “Somoza tyranny is hated” by the National Liberation Party. Oduber admitted that the Orlich government considered President Luis more reasonable than General Anatasia SOMOZA but felt the scheduled 1963 elections would be a fraud since no honest electoral machinery, e.g. registrations, is not being established. Discussing Nicaraguan internal politics, Oduber saw the Somoza’s main preoccupation as safeguarding their fortune. He stated that he thought conservative leader Fernando AGUERO would win it if an honest election were held today; that Foreign Minister René Schick, the Somoza candidate, would eventually withdraw, and that his (Oduber’s) group favored the Independent Liberal Party leader Alejandro ICAZA over the other possible candidates. Oduber also voices his fear that violence and assassination would mar the Nicaraguan presidential campaign.

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Oduber declared that the Orlich Government would like to see an OAS team in Nicaragua well before the elections to set up the conditions for honest balloting as well as to supervise the vote.

Oduber characterized the situation in Guatemala as “new, fresh, and more dangerous”. He indicated the Orlich government favored both ex-President Juan José AREVALO and opposition leader Mario MENDEZ Montenegro, but especially the latter whom Oduber described as strongest in the cities while Arevalo’s chief [Facsimile Page 2] support comes from the countryside. Oduber added that he did not like the idea of British Honduras being “conquered” by Guatemala, and inquired if Jamaica was about to become fully independent with a seat in the UN and on the OAS. Oduber also expressed concern at governmental corruption in Honduras and “some sectors” in Panama.

Oduber mentioned that his government would take advantage of the May 8 inauguration ceremonies to consult with representatives of the other Central American states in an effort to guide the Nicaraguan situation toward a democratic solution. Oduber also emphasized his government’s determination to take the lead in rallying Central America against Castro.

  1. Orlich government’s attitude toward other Central American States. Confidential. 2 pp. DOS, CF, 810.18/4–2762.↩