The Costa Rican—Nicaraguan Disputes (1948–1949, 1955 and 1978–1979)

Abstract

In the early months of 1948, Costa Rica’s conservative regime, which received support from the local communists, was overthrown by forces claiming the democratic principle as the basis of their action. At the end of the year the new regime, just after announcing the dissolution of the Costa Rican army, alleged that the neighbouring police state of Nicaragua had invaded Costa Rica and was plotting the overthrow of her government. It appealed to the Organization of American States (OAS). The United States was concerned at the threat to hemispheric stability, and persuaded the OAS to despatch an investigating committee, to which military advisers were attached. On the basis of its report certain ameliorative calls were made to the disputants, and accepted by them. In consequence they were committed to abstain from hostile acts against each other of both a direct and an indirect kind.