Allende attacks industrial giants

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 19

Allende attacks industrial giants

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, December 5. President Salvador Allende of Chile said yesterday that the world’s political structure was being undermined by great multi-national corporations not accountable to any institution representing the collective interest.

These enterprises were not only working against the genuine interests of developing countries, but their ’•overwhelming and uncontrolled” force was also felt in the industrialised countries where they had their headquarters, he said. Dr Allende made his attack on industrial giants—naming the International Telegraph and Telephone Company (1.T.T.) and the

Kennecott Copper Corporation and condemning the entire "phenomenon of transitional corporations”—in a 90-minute address to the United Nations General Assembly.

The largest attendance of delegates, officials and members of the general public at this session packed the vast hall and the applause at the conclusion of the speech lasted a full minute. It was repeated in a standing ovation when Dr Allende left the rostrum.

Dr Allende alleged that the I.T.T. had tried to bring about civil war in Chile. “That is what we call imperialist action," he said. What Chile confronted was a financial and economic blockade which took the form of an underhand, indirect form of aggression. Dr Allende said.

“We are having to face forces that operate in the half-light, that fight with powerful weapons but that fly no identifying flags, and that are entrenched in the most varied centres of influence,” he said.

“There is no embargo against trading with us. Noone has stated that they intend to fight us face to face. On the surface it would appear that the only enemies we have are our own natural political adversaries at home. But this is not true. We are the victims of virtually imperceptible activities, usually disguised with words and statements that respectfully extol the sovereignty and dignity of any country.” On his own philosophy he said he was “not a great Marxist theoretician” and Marxism was not a recipe for revolutions but a method of interpreting history. “In 1939 I was as much a Marxist as I am today and I was for three years a Minister of Health in the Popular Government," he said. “I founded the Socialist Party, which is a Marxist party. But I am not president of the Socialist Party nor is my Government a Marxist Government. We are against dogmatism and sectarianism."