Evening star., 1948-03-19
Costa Riean Official
Says War Threatens
In Central America
BY she Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Mar
19.-Gen. Rene Picado Michal-
ski, Security WAR Minister, says
Costa Rica's political revolt is
building into Central American
war.
Gen. Picado answered "yes" when
newsmen asked him last night If the
week-old rebellion by forces under
Jose Flgueres is going to involve all
OF Central America.
-Four other countries already are
said to be involved in Costa Rica's
political quarrel.
Guatema1a Accused.
Guatemala has been accused by
Costa Rica Of sending arms across
the border to insurgent forces.
(Guatemalas Foreign Ministry
instructed its San Jose envoy last
night to require Costa Rica to
prove the charge or withdraw it,
Nicaragua has sent planes and Of
flcers to aid the government, and
government forces have charged
that some Nicaraguans are helping
Figueres.
The government has sent DR..
Luis Anderson to Honduras to ap-
peal for arms. DR.. Anderson, Costa
Rica ndelegate to the Rio con-
ference, also will seek economic aid
At least three pilots from the Do
minican Republic have arrived from
Ctudad Trujillo to fly two Lasca
planes commandered from a Pan
American subsidiary Wednesday by
the government.
Based on Election Dispute.
Guatemala has denied the arms
charge, although Costa Rican gov
ernment officials contend that "ab-
solute evidence" has been obtained
that rifles and ammunition have
been sent across the border by
Guatemalan opposition elements.
Costa Rica's political caldron,
simmering since the February 8
elections, boiled over last Satur-
day when President Teodoro Picado
Michalski proclaimed martial law.
The dispute began in congress
sional action March l, when the
presidential election of Otilio Ulate
Blanco was annulled. Congress up
held fraud charges brought by his
opponent. Rafael Calderon Guardia,
the government candidate. Violent
partisanship developed and revolt
broke out Saturday.
U1ate charges that Communists
are backing the government and are
trying to use current political strife
as "a bridgehead for control of Latin
America" Figueres, champion of
Ulate, claims his men have captured
q number of known Communists.
president Picado's government
claims several victories. but opposi-
ton forces say 1000 square miles OF
Costa Rica are in rebel hands.
Fgueres repeatedly is getting
ready to move from his stronghold
south of Cartago, 40 miles below San
Jose, into the city of Cartago. He
has three Taca airplanes his forces
captured at San Isidro March II.
A rebel broadcast recently boasted
that Figueres' men command the
country from San Jose to San Isidro
and that I'VE are going to conquer
the country for the legitimate Presi-
dent Otilio Ulate."
Censorship restrictions were Or
dered removed last night from four
American correspondents: Reginald
L. Wood of the Associated Press,
Herry Hannifln of Time Magazine,
Terrence Stocken of the New York
Times, and Jules Du Bois, Chicago
Tribune. Mr.. Du Bois, who had
been under house arrest since SUM-
day, was ordered released.
The Navy Department denied
that United States destroyers at
tempted to dock at Costa Rican
port last Monday 1t was reported
earlier in San Jose that two United
States destroyers attempted to dock
at Punta Arenas, but withdrew
when a shore mounted anti-aircraft
gun was pointed at one of the ships.
Nuen Pee;ane pne&arate