Chile: the balanced view : a recopilation of articles about the Allende years and after

CHILE: THE BALANCED VIEW. AN IN– TRODUCTION. Francisco Orrego Vicuña. Since the government ofPresident Allende was overthrown by the military, hundreds of pub/ications ha ve found their way into bookstores, newstands, libraries and mass media. Most ofthese publícations respond to a passionate debate, ideological positions or polítical interest, and in fact most of them are propagandistic in nature. Thereby, the scholarLy analysis and the point ofview ofauthors who have tried to provide a serious interpretation of this process, has many times passed unnoticed or has remained in the exclusive knowledge of learned specialists. In view ofthese circumstances the preparationfor this book bt:came necessary in order lo bring io the public attention a numberofarticles, essays and statements, which have been regarded as serious and essentially balanced. This does not mean that some ofthe authors included do not take sides, for in fact they do; but when doing so, they have undertaken a well-founded study or based their opinions in their own political experience. Needless to say, the task ofmaking a selection has not been an easy one. The short time elapsed since the government ofthe Popular Unity came to an end, makes ofany attempt at objectivity an effort which is almost impossible toachieve. Therefore, afirst requirement is to explain which have been the standards and críteria used in making this selection. Afirst criterion has been to select those materials ensuring a highacademic standard in the treatment of Chilean problems, disregarding the personal opinion of their writers. Unfortunately, few pieces have met this standard. However, the articles by Professor Paul E. Sigmund on Allende in retrospect and on the invisible blockade, the study by M. Jonathan E. Sanford on the multilateral development banks lending policies to Chile, the article by Edward W. Glab on politics and economics under the Allende government. and the articJe by the editor on the nationalization of the copper industry by Chile. have been inc/uded under this criterion. In the lalter case it is not the editor who has passed judgement on his own writings. but the board of editors of the journal where it was originally publíshed. A second criterion has been to include articles and statements which, although not beeng academic in thelr natilre, are the work of distinguished scholars and journalists. particularLy well known because of their expertise in Latin American politics. Harold Blakemore, Markos J. Mamalakis, Robert Moss, James D. Theberge, Emest W. Lefever, and Riordan Roett, qualify beyond doubt in this category. The third criterion has been to highlight some statements about Chile delivered in important forums ofdiscussion, but having remained little known. This category has grou~ ped, on the one hand, statements made by individuals in their prívate capacity, such as those by Mr. William Ratliffand Mr. Pedro lbáñez. On the other hand, some statements by official representatives have also been included, namely, that ofambassador Manuel Trucco before the OAS Permanent Council, and those by Ministers Fernando Léniz and Raúl Sáez before the Inter-American Committee on the Alliance for Progress, as well as several comments on the latter two. The fact ofhaving included official statements could be interpreted as being incompati– ble with the maín purpos,e of ensuring a balanced point of view, since of course they will represent the position ofthe government. However, in addition to the general policy stated aboye, another standard has been applíed in this case: such statements should be well founded in terms oftheir background and the quality oftheir analysis, in order that they wil! seriously contribute to the discussion and clarification of the problems in volved. Last, the inclusion of the point of view of some first hand witnesses of the Chilean 11