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

the socialist world, Latin America, Western Europe and Japan. Moreover, the real balance-of-payments impact of a$300 million decline in disbursements on past loans from these samesources over a three year period was minor and could not possible have been responsible forthe economic and social chaos attrib4ted to it by critics of American policy. This small decline in loan disbursements, which contributed little to the weakening of the Popular Unity Government, pales in comparison with the self-destructive and suicidal policies of the Allende regime. Just one of Allende's policies -radical land reform and toleration of illegalland seizures by the ultra-Ieft-created such insecurity and disruption of farm'production for.urban markets that Chile was qompelled to import $1.1 billion in foodstuffs in 1971-73 above its normal level of food imports. RUSSIA REFUSED TO HAlL OUT ALLENDE In view of Allende's deliberate policy of reducing Chile's economic dependence on the Uniled States and strengthening economic relations with the "socialist" states, a strong case can be made for criticizing the USSR -Ieader of the socialist camp-and not the United States for refusing to meet the massive short-term financial requirements made necessary by Allende's own policies. Allende's loyal ally and "big brother" was willing lo sel! Soviet machinery and equipment to Chile financed with long-term credits, but denied him the massive short-term financial assistance and hard currencies he needed to import food, spare parts and machinery and alleviale local shortages. Instead, Moscow made it clear that the main efforl 10 overcome the calamitous decline in production and win the people over to socíalism must be made by the Allende regime ítself-in other words, Moscow in its wisdom counseled self-help and refused to mount a serious effort to save Allende and the Popular Unity radicals from their own folly.(12) (12)See James Theberge's "Kremlin's Hand in Allende's Chile", SOviet Artalyst (LOndon) August 15,1974 lar an account 01 USSR -Cuban relatíons under Allende. 159