• COSTA RICA
The war between Nicaragua-based guerrillas and the demo- cratic Government of Costa Rica has been waged on a tiny scale; but unrest in Central America is a recurrent nightmare for the United States, which—with the security of the Panama Canal in mind—has a passion for stability in the area. In the past—to the disgust of many Latin Americans—the State Department has openly supported reactionary autocrats such as President Somoza of Nicaragua, because these 'strong men' know hOw to maintain order in their countries; and last year Washington made no secret of its desire to see Guatemala invaded by reactionary forces from across the Honduran fron- tier, so that the Communist-influenced Arbenz regime might be overthrown. On that occasion the United States Government argued that Castillo Armas's invasion of his homeland was, in reality, an internal Guatemalan revolution; and until a few days ago the President of Nicaragua evidently expected that his North American friends would provide the same conveni- ent interpretation when forces from his own country advanced into Costa Rica 'to dispose of his hated, mildly left-wing rival, President Figueres. But the United States are increasingly sensitive to accusations that they are always ready to betray their democratic principles when military strategy or commer- cial interest demands this little sacrifice. To abandon the almost unarmed republic of Costa Rica to its fate at the hands of the relatively well-armed Nicaraguans (who appear to have re- ceived some assistance from the Venezuelan military junta, with whom the Costa Rican President is not on speaking terms) would have brought upon the USA the most damaging dis- credit. To the surprise of Nicaragua's Somoza, who this week as a result drew in his horns, the State Department have encour- aged the Organisation of American States to declare that the forces which have been making a rather feeble effort to reach the Costa Ridan capital did in fact come from the neighbour- ing republic (Nicaragua). The adjustment in the State Depart- ment's attitude is wise, and welcome.
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