Chile Before September 1970
General Background
At the start of the Chilean tragedy almost three decades ago, the U.S. government wasn't even sure that Chile was important to American national interests. Except for some multi-national corporations which had mining and other business interests, the sliver of a country embedded between the towering Andes and the Pacific Ocean was barely known to most Americans. But the CIA began alerting Washington to the rise of Allende's leftist Popular Unity coalition in 1968. By 1970, the CIA warned that Allende was poised to win the largest bloc of votes in Chile's national election. At the time, the Vietnam War was President Nixon's biggest headache. Chile was more a nuisance, although Nixon feared Allende's victory might erode the image of U.S. strength. On March 25, June 27 and Aug. 7, 1970, then-national security advisor Kissinger chaired meetings of the "40 Committee," a high-level inter-agency group. The committee ordered covert operations to "denigrate Allende and his Popular Unity coalition," according to one historical CIA summary. Peter Kornbluh, "The Chile Coup - The U. S. Hand" , October 25, 1998.
But the State Department questioned the alarmist fears. State reported to the White House on Aug. 18, 1970, that "we identify no vital U.S. national interests within Chile.",,,In a 23-page report, State added that Allende's election did not even present a unique set of problems. "In examining the potential threat posed by Allende, it is important to bear in mind that some of the problems foreseen for the United States in the event of his election are likely to arise no matter who becomes Chile's next president." Peter Kornbluh, "The Chile Coup - The U. S. Hand" , October 25, 1998.
Nevertheless, the U.S. ambassador to Chile and other senior Nixon officials saw a regional crisis -- and a blow to Washington's international prestige -- if an avowed Marxist won a fair presidential election in South America. Ambassador Edward Korry began sending frantic, minute-by-minute commentaries about the last days of Chile's 1970 campaign. Korry's cables became known inside the State Department as "Korrygrams" because of their unusual language and undiplomatic opinions....On election day, Korry sent no fewer than 18 updates. He reported that he could hear "the mounting roar of Allendistas acclaiming their victory" from the streets. Korry wrote: "We have suffered a grievous defeat." The next three weeks, Korry flooded Washington with lurid reports alleging a communist takeover. In one cable, he announced that "there is a graveyard smell to Chile, the fumes of a democracy in decomposition. They stank in my nostrils in Czechoslovakia in 1948 and they are no less sickening here today." Peter Kornbluh, "The Chile Coup - The U. S. Hand" , October 25, 1998.
As to why Nixon and Kissinger were so determined to block or oust Allende, one Nov 5, 1970 "options" paper for Kissinger lists as first among U.S. objectives "the prevention of establishment...of an authoritarian Marxist regime, the prevention of the regime's falling under Communist control, and prevention of its influencing the rest of Latin America to follow it either as a model or through its external policies." Citing the warning of an unnamed Italian businessman, Nixon said in his memoirs that an Allende in power in Chile, combined with Fidel Castro in Cuba, would make "Latin America a red sandwich." Jim Lobe, "U. S. Documents Confirm Destabilisation of Allende," 11 Sep 98; Copyright 1998 InterPress Service, all rights reserved. Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
Prior U. S. Interventions
Allende Election
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Updated March 26, 1999
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