U.S. Stays Silent

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 13

U.S. Stays Silent

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 5. The United States Government today refrained from commenting on the evident election victory of Dr Salvador Allende, an avowed Marxist and admirer of the Cuban Prime Minister, Dr Fidel Castro as President of Chile.

State Department officials noted that because none of the three candidates won an over-all majority, the Chilean Congress would have to choose the new Head of State. “In as much as the electoral process is still taking place, it would be inappropriate for us to offer any comment,” a spokesman said. However, diplomatic observers noted that if Dr Allende is named president, a Communist-based Govern-

ment might have a decisive role in trying to influence the Organisation of American States (0.A.5.) into taking a more conciliatory approach to Cuba. Even the Christian Democratic Government of President Edwarda Frei had been reluctant to accept the O.A.S. —imposed trade and diplomatic embargo against Cuba, and it recently began a limited trade exchange in foodstuffs and goods which it said were not covered by the O.A.S. restrictions. Chile has been a major recipient of United States aid and the election of Dr Allende might be a test case for President Nixon’s declaration that the United States would accept, diplomatically, at any rate, freely-elected governments in the Western Hemisphere. Observers said that if Dr Allende did become President and carried through his programme to nationalise banks and major industries, the Nixon Administration might have to rethink its aid policies towards Chile.

After the victory of Dr Allende the United States could only “keep hands off. behave correctly and hope for the best,” the “New York Times” said. The newspaper said in an editorial: “This (election) result, unprecedented in the Americas and virtually without parallel anywhere, is a heavy blow at liberal democracy.

“It may mark the demise of the ailing Alliance for Progress, which was undertaken ‘to improve and strengthen democratic institutions.’ . . .

“All the United States can do in this situation is to keep hands off, behave correctly and hope for the best. Dr Allende is a Chilean, preferred by a plurality—though not a majority—of Chilean voters.

“The Monroe Doctrine has no relevance here and neither does the Inter-American Defence Treaty. Whatever troubles Chile may face would] only be compounded by even] the appearance of American interference.”