Small Earthquake in Chile by Alistair Horne

Author:Alistair Horne [Horne, Alistair]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447233503
Publisher: Pan Books

Chapter 11

‘The Cowards are Leaving . . .’

As we drive northwards back to Santiago along that endlessly straight lifeline of Chile, the Pan-American Highway, I try to form a few conclusions from what we had seen in the south. Of one thing there is no doubt: whatever the ‘social injustices’ committed in the past collectively by them, in the expulsion from their properties of the good and bad latifundistas, a human tragedy of major proportions was being enacted. The question was, how far would this counter-swing of the pendulum go? Out of the deprivation of those being deprived, would there emerge a better life for more Chileans, a real millennium for the long underprivileged Mapuches? Would Chonchol’s reforms make Chile, in greater or lesser time, a more efficient food producer? Was the Allende government playing a dirty game with the MIR? Would the agitation on the land lead to the ‘armed confrontation’ so ardently sought by Debray and the miristas?

First of all, there appeared to be some division of opinion within the UP itself as to how to deal, ultimately, with the ‘reformed’ lands. Allende was on record as backing the continued existence of small and medium-small farmers; his reasons being no doubt part political, because he could reckon on the support of many opposition Christian Democrats for land reform (which, after all, they had themselves instigated), but not for collectivization. Despite all the panic and alarm, not every landowner was having his farm taken away – yet – in that February of 1971. There was, for instance, the ex-ambassador to France, Enrique Bernstein (now permanent secretary of the foreign office), who had told me in Santiago how he had returned from France expecting to find his 320-hectare fundo expropriated. The ‘syndicalists’ called for him, and three-and-a-half hours of discussion ensued. ‘But as I had just had weeks-long negotiations in Paris with the Chinese over the resuming of relations I was in good training, and I just exhausted them! In fact, when it was all over they threw a party for me, composing impromptu cuecas120 about my career in France.’ So Bernstein will keep at least the major part of his fundo – but for how long? Repeatedly Chonchol has made it clear that he intends an end to private holdings, and for them to be incorporated into massive state farms. On these ‘co-operatives’ à la Chonchol, the individual workers will merely possess their own house and a huerto or allotment. And the majority of Mapuches – like the Lemonaos – seem to be making it equally clear that, although they want their ‘usurped’ lands back, this is not how they want them. So will the wretched Mapuches find that once again, like the indígenas all over Latin America ever since Independence, they are being swindled by yet another set of all-promising huinca revolutionaries?

Historical experience everywhere has been against collectivization of agriculture – in almost any form. Tito valiantly abandoned it, after a few early disasters; Russia plunges on, wastefully and inefficiently; Castro has reduced Cuban agriculture to a catastrophe.

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