119. Telegram 502 from San Salvador, April 291
Seven Embassy teams blanketed country today to observe elections. Voting procedures greatly improved over last December with number voting places almost doubled and little congestion or confusion. While voters moved much more rapidly through polling places, teams concensus is that vote will be much lighter than in December when it totalled 345 thousand, possibly running as much as 30 to 50 percent smaller. Number of trucks and buses engaged in moving campesinos to polls was not impressive and overall enthusiasm of December contest was clearly lacking. Talks with officials at polling places indicate that single party ticket being given by them as reason for apparent apathy.
No known incidents occurred but early this morning some streets and roads in and around San Salvador were strewn with devises with nails for puncturing tires.
Despite foregoing assessment, CGS labor leaders told Embassy officer at 5 p.m. that they anticipate total vote would reach 500 thousand (double what PCN received in December).
- Report on elections. Official Use Only. 1 p. DOS, CF, 716.00/4–2962.↩