Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

176. Telegram 1730 From the Embassy in Costa Rica to the Department of State¹ ²

San Jose, July 6, 1970, 2300Z

Subject:

• Carlos Fonseca Amador

Ref:

• San Jose 1621

1. President Figueres told me yesterday me yesterday GOCR still studying plan for Fonseca’s “escape” to third country. Fonseca had turned down plan which included momentary asylum in Chilean Embassy San Jose because he “would lose face” asking for asylum.

2. Figueres indicated latest thinking was to deliver Fonseca directly to Cuba via a secret LACSA flight. He might attempt arrange exchange for one of Cubans imprisoned by Castro.

3. If Cuba asylum could not be arranged, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru remained other countries which might accept Fonseca. Spain remained a possibility, although President indicated CR FonOff had not yet approached Spanish on this matter.

4. Figueres promised keep Embassy informed developments.

Ploeser

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 29 COSTA RICA. Confidential; Priority. It was repeated to Guatemala City, La Paz, Madrid, Lima, Managua, Santiago, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, and USCINCSO.
2. President Figueres told the Embassy that the Costa Rican Government was still studying a plan to arrange the escape of Sandinista captive Carlos Fonseca Amador to a third country.