COSTA RICA POLITICAL AFFAIRS Continuance of the Tinoco Government; Counter-Revolutionary Attempts to Oust Tinoco; Attitude of the United States File No. 818.00/286 1 The Minister in Panama (Price) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PANAMA, December 31, 1917, 4 p. m. Your December 29, 6 p. m.2 complied with. Volio seemed much discouraged. He stated that Tinoco would never yield to any moral pressure but only to physical compulsion and would completely ruin Costa Rica rather than retire voluntarily; that there seems to be nothing to be done except either to select an agreeable place to locate until it should be safe to return to Costa Rica or go to Washington and take up matters direct; that he would return Wednesday after considering the matter further; that they did not expect the Government of the United States to give any active encouragement but would be satisfied with its keeping hands off. To my inquiry as to his plans, in such event he said that he would proceed to Nicaragua and invade Costa Rica as previously stated, but he admitted that he had been assured of permission to do this by Nicaragua only on condition that the United States made no objection. He stated that they decided to initiate their movements from the outside because they were convinced that it would occasion much less bloodshed. PRICE File No. 818.00/289 The Minister in Panama (Price) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PANAMA, January 3, 1918, 3 p. m. Supplementing my December 31, 4 p. m. Volio states that it is now their intention to proceed to Nicaragua on the Pacific Mail steamer Peru next Monday or Tuesday. He has stated to the British Minister that they expected to lease launch for the trip. He states to me that the movement of Fernandez Guell was several months ago and that while friends of Isobar Volio persuaded Fernandez Guell of the impracticability of a movement supported by Germans, he had no other connection with him. Please instruct as to whether to let these parties leave for Nicaragua even if unarmed. 3 Continued from Foreign Relations, 1917, pp. 301-349. 2 Op. cit., p. 349; also quoted in the Department's telegram of January 4, 1918, post, p. 230. 'A member of the Costa Rican Congress. Emilio Clare, chief of Panaman postal service, whose brother is the editor of the Tinoco newspaper organ in San José, is attempting to find out whether Volio is receiving encouragement from the Gov ernment of the United States, stating that he is making such claim in Costa Rica. PRICE File No. 818.00/279 The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Costa Rica (Johnson) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 4, 1918, 7 p. m. On December 22 [29]1 the Department cabled Am[erican] Legation, Panama, to the following effect: Instruct censor to withhold transmission Volio's cables. You may inform Volio that the Government of United States will not countenance armed activities such as he contemplates, inasmuch as this Government feels that only by moral force can a constitutional and duly legalized Government be set up in Costa Rica. You may inform Government of Panama that Government of United States cannot countenance any armed activities against Government of Nicaragua or the people of Costa Rica and wishes to emphasize the responsibility which, of course, the Government of Panama recognizes rests upon that Government to prevent armed forces from leaving territory of Panama for the purpose of operating in either of the neighboring Republics. Please communicate contents of this telegram to United States military authorities, and request their coopera tion in watching movements of Volio and his followers and in preventing them from undertaking armed expedition contemplated by them. Department is in receipt of reports to the effect that Castro Quesada and his associates have affiliations with German interests. Which Panama answered January first as follows: British Minister tells me Volio told him to-day that he was discouraged and had about decided not to pursue his project; that, however, Rogelio Guell, formerly editor the Imparcial, San José, had made plans to begin a revolution backed by the Germans and German money at the time he left, but agreed to hold off for him to carry out his intention. Keep Department fully informed of any revolutionary rumors, particularly as to the real leaders and their affiliations with German interests. Your December 22, 4 p. m.2 Cables withheld by censor show Volio is in direct communication with Gonzalez and Castro Quesada in New York. LANSING File No. 818.00/289 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Panama (Price) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 5, 1918, 6 p. m. Your January 3, 3 p. m. Considered advisable not to permit these men to proceed to Nicaragua. LANSING File No. 818.00/302 The Chargé in Costa Rica (Johnson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram-Extract] SAN JOSÉ, January 10, 1918, 10 a. m. In further reference to your January 4, 7 p. m., last paragraph, and in explanation of the last part of my December 22, 4 p. m.1 Volio assured me in the only interview I have had, which was just before leaving here, that movement projected is not for the purpose of restoring Gonzalez. He himself was in the cabinet of Gonzalez Vicquez and I assumed that any communication with Gonzalez Flores would be merely for the purpose of obtaining representation before the Department. It is most improbable that Tinoco will retire except by force, and no movement except conspiracy within Government can be undertaken except during present three months' dry season. Economic pressure alone will not cause retirement. Many political prisoners in jail and outrages frequently committed. Situation approaches that of Nicaragua under Zelaya. Fernandez Guell is in hiding because of inclusion in list mentioned in Legation telegram of November 12, 9 p. m.,1 and despatch No. 196, November 16,1 which please see. File No. 818.00/305 JOHNSON The Minister in Panama (Price) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PANAMA, January 13, 1918, noon. Your January 5, 6 p. m. Volio has attempted to lease launches to get away, but so far has been frustrated. He has now represented to me that he will remain here amenable to such indications as I may be willing to make and that he will do nothing contrary to the will of the United States. An American from San José, possible but likely self-appointed emissary of Tinoco, tells me that the latter said to him he would have war declared on Germany, Costa Rican waters placed at our disposal, and 10,000 troops furnished for the defense of the canal if given recognition. [He] expressed the opinion as personal, but suspected to have official coloring, that Tinoco could be induced to withdraw in favor of Esquivel of Supreme Court or Rafael Canas or one of others. Volio would be willing to accept either of the above named. PRICE File No. 818.00/304 The Chargé in Costa Rica (Johnson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] SAN JOSÉ, January 13, 1918, 7 p. m. Have learned on fair authority that Costa Rican ship Izabel now at San José, Guatemala, with supplies for the earthquake sufferers will be returned with munition sent by Cabrera to Tinoco. JOHNSON 'Not printed. File No. 818.00/308 The Chargé in Guatemala (Thurston) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] GUATEMALA, January 17, 1918, 2 a. m. I am informed that Ricardo Tinoco who brought relief supplies to Guatemala has now returned to Costa Rica on the steamer Izabel with a cargo of ammunition. A hasty investigation last night failed to confirm this. THURSTON File No. 818.00/320 The Chargé in Costa Rica (Johnson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] SAN JOSÉ, February 3, 1918, 2 p. m. Arrests of civilians continue. Tinoco has been warned by Chamorro of danger to be expected by way of Rio Frio and has dispatched more troops to Limon. Tinoco much alarmed; expecting early outbreak of movement referred to in my January 25, 9 a. m.1 JOHNSON File No. 818.00/321 The Chargé in Costa Rica (Johnson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] SAN JOSÉ, February 7, 1918, 1 p. m. Am informed by one of the spokesmen for movement referred to in my telegram of January 25, 9 a. m.,' that it will begin early next week, that Turrichester [Turrialba] will be headquarters, that they possess few resources but are going to make the attempt. Please see also my telegram of December 31, 11 a. m.1 Am skeptical of success. Reign of terror for Costa Ricans expected. Arrests continuing. Consul has received two letters warning that he will be assassinated in order to bring about intervention. JOHNSON File No. 818.00/326 The Chargé in Costa Rica (Johnson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] SAN JOSÉ, February 15, 1918, noon. Energetic measures of Joaquin Tinoco in the way of arrests resulting in confessions are revealing to him widespread nature of Volio revolutionary plans. Twenty rural guard were discovered to have been bought. They have been punished. It is said that half of police are also bought. Arturo Volio arrested yesterday; many others implicated are also in prison. These severe blows to movement may break it up before it gets under way. Tinoco extremely active in house searching and arrests during last three days. 'Not printed. Salvador Calderon Ramirez, Nicaraguan, has been here from Panama attempting to persuade Tinoco to resign in favor of Francisco Aguilar Barquero, but without success. He has returned to Panama. Ex-President Duran has likewise attempted this, telling Tinoco whole country against him. Action dictated by arrest of his son-in-law. Calderon also brought to Caders discouraging news of inability of Volio to do anything in Panama although he had promise of help from Panama officials. JOHNSON File No. 818.00/410 Report from the Navy Department (Office of Naval Intelligence) to the Secretary of State WASHINGTON, February 20, 1918. FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN COSTA RICA This office has to-day received the following report: In making any report on the abnormal political and financial situation prevailing in Costa Rica ever since Federico Tinoco established the present de facto Government by overthrowing the constitutional Government of Alfredo Gonzalez, on the 27th of January of last year, a brief summary of events seems to be indispensable. It may be remembered that Federico Tinoco, then acting as Minister of War of the Gonzalez Government, taking as an excuse the alleged reelection pretensions of the then President, rose in arms against the Government and proclaimed himself military head of the country, solemnly promising the Costa Rican people to deliver the presidency of the Republic to the man whom they should freely and spontaneously designate at elections to be held on a future date. This solemn promise was made in a proclamation issued and signed by Tinoco on the date of the uprising, but few were the sensible Costa Ricans who ever gave faith to those words. One of the first steps taken by the Tinoco Government was to issue a decree summoning the people to hold elections for members to an assembly which was to frame out the new Constitution. The date fixed for these elections was the 2d of April. In the meantime Tinoco directed all his efforts towards gaining popularity among his countrymen, and in striving to do so, pretended to deal with members of the fallen Government with the utmost leniency. Alfredo Gonzalez, up to late, President of the Republic, and Manuel Castro Quesada, up to then envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States, who, in order to avoid any possible violence, had taken refuge in the American Legation, were allowed to leave the country undisturbed; all members of the cabinet, authorities, and sympathizers of the old régime, were for the time allowed freely to go about their business, and citizens in general, for the first few days, were given absolute liberty. This state of things did not last very long. Tinoco, convinced of his unpopularity and of the opposition his Government was to find on the part of the greater portion of the people who strongly disapproved and condemned his treacherous conduct towards the established Government, forbade the departure of the ex-President's brothers and family, who on their way to the States were detained at the station of Peralta; partisans of the old régime were closely watched and followed by Government spies and anyone expressing himself against Tinoco was arrested and taken to the damp and dirty dungeons of the penitentiary. Henceforth Tinoco proclaimed himself candidate to the presidency of the Republic for the next term of office and at the same time issued an absurd and ridiculous decree summoning the people to simultaneously hold elections of the same date, for President of the Republic and for members of the Assembly which was to frame out the new Constitution. This illegal and arbitrary act of the new Government only served the purpose of diminishing the |