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

network was orchestrated by the Soviet Union in pursuance 01 its own imperialistic aims, Belore goingmore deeply into the extent 01 loreign intervention experienced by Chile, I wish to emphasize that I lullyunderstand how the outside world gained a distorted view 01 the realities in Chile, and I am taking especially into account the climate lavoring detente which prevails in the United States, A policy 01 detente may exist and may work effectively among 'lations 01 comparable size and might, particularly considering that"in the last analysis, detente rests on power But, as wa's demonstrated by the Brehznevinvasion of Czechoslavakia, it is completely unrealistic to speak 01 detente between a small nation and a great power, Even Ihe leader 01 a great nation, Chancellor Schmidt 01 Germany, underscored this lact when he slated Ihal "the Atlantic Alliance remains the elementary basis 01 our security and the p'olitical framework", to promote international detente", Furthermore, it musí be emphasized that a very real imperialistic thrust underlay the aggression lo which Chil'e was submitted, Historically, imperialism is an inseparable expression 01 a nations's overwhelming vitality, althougn very seldom do nations achieve a level 01 imperialistic inlluence even alter arriving al the maximum level 01 their power, Therelore, imperialism should not always be regarded as something utterly bad, except, 01 course, lar the 120 million inhabitants of the Soviet satellite nations and others who have had to endure it, as was lo be our case, It may be somewhat diffícult lor Americans to understand the real significance 01 imperialism, First, because Americans themselves have not lately suffered lrom the impe– rial istic drives of other powers within their own territory, and, second, because, lar those 01 us who have had the opportunity to make comparisons, what is called American imperia– lism seems to be very amateurish indeed, To understand the extent and the sophistication 01 the Soviet Union's imperialistic drive against Chile, it is important to say that the Chilean Communist Party is a most loyal branch olthe Soviet Union's Communist Party, and thatthe Secretary General olthe Chilean Chapter was a Senator; that another Chilean Communist Senator was a member 01 the Senale Committee on Delense; and that still another was on the Committee 01 Foreign Relations. AII these "Chilean" Senators traveled frequently lo the Soviet Union -Ihe Senator who was Secretary General made several trips a year- to report and to receive instructions Irom their headquarters. In December 1971, when Allende made a state visit to the Soviet Union, who should appear unexpectedly at a Kremlin reception but the Senator who was Secretary General 01 ourChilean Communist Party! His presence was puzzling, to say the least, because he was not a memberol the official entourage, and it will probably never be known whether he was attending as a guest or a has!. Making an oflicial toast during this visit, Allende praised the Soviet Union as "Chile's big brother", thus publicly acknowledging his government's submission lo Ihe Kremlin. THE COMMUNIST TAKE-OVER The Communist take-over 01 Chile was begun through the conliscation 01 business enterprises, although the government's principal aim was not so much to deprive rich men 01 their wealth as to gain control over sources 01 jobs and, thereby, control over workers. The approach was subtle, Immediately alter taking office, Allende announced a 50 reduction in interest rates. Debtors were exultan!. Bankers, on the other hand, knew they were doomed lo bankruptcy because they could no! meet expenses. On the stock market, the price 01 bank shares came tumbling down, The government then offered to buy those shares at the prices prevailing before the interest rate was cut. Some large stockholders accepted this olfer, some even received top prices in dollars, With a lew exceptions, the 65