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

foreseen by the Frei regime that preceded that of Allende, In February 1970, two guided missile destroyer escort vessels and two diesel submarines were ordered from Britain, AII four are partially finished and in the water, but their completion and delivery to Chile is in jeopardy because there are elements in the shipbuilders trade union ideologically oppo– sed to the present Chile government. There has already been one work stoppage over this issue, Further, under left-wing pressure, the British Government has prohibited RolIs-Royce from either rehauling the engines or selling spare parts forChile's 18 Hawker-Hunterfighter aircraft, This could result in a virtual standdown of these fighters, unless an alternative source of parts and overhaul can be found, In short, Britain has become an undependable source of military equipment that Chile deems essential to deter an attack from Peru. Under these circumstances, Chile would like to purchase a modest amount of military hardware from the United States, not only to deter external attack. but to increase the capability ofthe Armed Services to engage in emergency humanitarian operations. During the severe floods last month, for example, mi litary aircraft and trucks were extensively used to rescue and feed the victims, Chile may not be able to buy mílítary equípment in the Uníted States because several members of Congress, who do not like certain policies of the present government, are determined to take punitive action against i1. They propose denying credits for military purchases, If they succeed, Chile would be forced to turn to other suppliers with the consequent loss in the U.S, balance of payments and in any modest influence that goes along with the provision of mílitaryequipment, training, and advice, I will return tothis pOint later, Why Did the Allende Regime Fail? It is not possible to unaerstand the growing public pressure for military intervention without recognizing that the vast majority of the Chilean people by August 1973 had concluded that the Allende regime was a colossal failure. The political, economic, and social situation had deteriorated catastrophically bythen, While Chileans may disagree on tne causes of this deterioration or with the particular form of the September 11 coup, which arrested it, there appears to be substantial agreement on certain basic facts about the Allende period: 1. The explicity Marxist government of Salvador Allende, whose Popular Unity coali– tion achieved 36.5 % of the vote, was instal'ed legally in September 1970. 2. Though heading a minority regime, President Allende acted as though he had majority support, and he was increasingly influenced by the more extreme and militant Marxist elements in his coalition and by a non-party organization, the Revolutionary Movement of the Left (MIR) which was committed to trans10rming Chile into a totalitarian Marxist state, 3, By means of "Iegalloopholes" and invoking obscure laws out 01 context, the regime engaged in a protracted effort to weaken, neutralize, subvert, or otherwise destroy the independence and effectiveness ofthe Legislative and Judicial branches 01 government in violation of the letter and spirit of the Chilean Constitution. 4, Jhe regime permitted or encouraged the emigration of 12,000 to 15,OOO.foreign sympathizers into Chile to observe and participate in the "revolution", Many of these 10reigners were committed to violence, others were terrorists, and some were common criminals, Many 01 them were permitted to operate illegally, 5. The regime encouraged or permitted the illegal import of large quantities of arms from Cuba and other countries and the development of illegal armed groups in factories, political headquarters, and other places. 6. The regime permitted terrorist groups to seize andhold private property with impunity. 7. The regime prevented or sought to prevent the national civil police (Carabineros) from bringing Marxist guerrillas to justice, 274