Evening star., 1948-12-13

munist-suppored attack by between
200 and 1000 men. ~.
The foreign ministers will decide
by tomorrow afternoon whether to
convene an emergency session to
consider defensive measures under
the mutual aid treaty.in effect
only ten days.
Yesterdays action under the
Inter-American defense system fol-
lowed rapidly after invaders landed
In the Bay of Silinas on the Pacific
side of Costa Rica and overpowered
q 20-man garrison in La Cruz. The
town Is located in the northwestern
sector of the Central American
Republic which reaches within 180
miles of the Panama Canal.
Invaders Reported Under Control.
Daniel Oduber. secretary of Costa
Rica's ruling junta, said at San
Jose the invaders were under con-
troll and that a suspension Of civil
guarantees had resulted in the cap
ture of five Communists. The Com
munist Party IS cutlawed in Costa
Rica.
The Costan Rican Government
charged the INVADING force is made
up of Communists. Nicararguan
guardsmes1 disguised In "fashy blue
uniforms" and not more than 100
Costa Rican political exiles.
Rafael Calderon Guardia, for
mer Costa Rican president routed
by the current junta last May, was
named as the leader by the San
Jose regime.
Somoza Denies Part.
In Nicaragua, Gen. Anastasio
Somoza, war minister and strong
man." denied the troops came from
his country, and said, they were
Costa Ricans. He announced the
national guard Is patrolling the
border to prevent any contact with
the attackers.
Costa Rica, which itself put the
Rio treaty into force December 3
by depositing the last needed ratifi-
cation, invoked it yesterday by ask
ing for o conference OF foreign
ministers.
This plea was taken up at an
extraordinary meeting Of the Coun-
Gil of the Organization OF Amer
ican States.
Could Issue Cease Fire Order.
Under terms Of the Rio pact, the
Foreign Ministers meeting could
issue q cease-fire order, oncially
identify the aggressor and adopt
by two-thirds vote-such en-
forcement measures as breaking OF
diplomatic relations, invoking eco
nomic sanctions or outright mill
tary assistance.
Under the treaty, the attacked
country also can ask individual
nations to supply military and other
aid in advance of the Foreign Min
listers conference.
Costa Rica limited her plea to
conference. But Ambassador Mario
Esquivel told a reporter I'VE need
military and all kinds Of help be-
cause we have no army" The
Costa Rican Army was abolished
about a week ago.
Full Information Sought.
After four and { half hours of
debate, mostly On legal angles, the
council:
l. Voted to put the whole ques-
ton of calling a conference to the
Foreign Ministers themselves.
2. Sent telegram to Costa Rica
and Nicaragua saying the Council
is profoundly preoccupied" and has
decided to take steps tending to-
ward maintaining international
peace and security in the hemi-
sphere"
3. Asked the two governments for
full information and set another
special session for Tuesday.
Ambassador EsquiYel, obviously
disappointed over the delay in ac-
ton, said his government now will
rely mainly on its people and Sec
ondly con the treaty.
Earlier he had said: If the state
ments of two governments are going
to be considered as offseting entries
without regard to the moral
standing of each and disregarding
the facts, we shall be lost in the fog
of a continuous threat to peace"
The Organization Of American
States was set up by the 81 Anier1-
can Republics at the Inter-Ameri-
can Conference in Bogota last May.
The council acts as a sort OF
Board of Directors for the organiza-
ton. It has the power, among
others, to call the foreign ministers
into consultation in the event OF
an armed attack that comes within