Counter-revolution In Costa Rica

Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1948, Page 5

Counter-revolution In Costa Rica

vi'd iSuiidav, 7 p.m. SAN .foSI-:, I)ec. 11. The provisional president of Costa Ri*a, Senor Jose Figueres, announced today that forces ojiposed to his (tovernmeiit hegau an invasion from Nicaragua this morning. He said there was sharp fighting. wherein the invaders had takou La Cruz on the ('osta Riean side oL' ihe border. T'he invading forces were Kiijiporting the former Costa Rican President, Senor Kafael AngeJ t.'alderon Guardia, who fied after the re.\oluti,on in April. Senor Figueres claimed that the Xicaraguan Xational Guard was the actual force hehind the invasion -and only a few ('o>ta Itican exiles were involved. He declared that the invasion meant "ieal war'1 with Xicaragua. The invasion climaxes months of moumiiig jioJiiiral tension throughout Cenfral ^nierica, the I'nited Press says. "!ose oliseri crs see the invasion as a spark jhat could ignite the Centrai American powder keg. Only eieven days agij Senor Figueres dissolved the Costa Kican army wherewith he wdii tlie ci\i] war last Afay. llowever, he retained a well armed and trained police force which is being used :is the nneleus for a new anny. In .Managua, the Xiearagnan eapitai, the former Costa Uiean President, Senor (iuardia, said today his aim was to ou.-t Senor Figueres' regime. The rebtds are reported to liave reached Hiberia about 4(l miles from the Xiearagnan frontier and ]()0 miles northwestward oi San Jose. The Co.-,ta Iliean Government has su. -peruTed constitutional guarantees and ordeied I'uJI mobilisat ion. In W ashington today, Senor AI ario Fsquivel, Costa Jfican Ambassador, said Costa Rica would invoke the liio (|(J Janeiro W'estern Hemispherje De--iOnee Pact to obtain assistanceein re-t peilhia the invasion. •'r