79-11-A3
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Chile[edit]
Transcript[edit]Let us start with the premise that all of us deplore violation of human rights wherever they take place. Let us agree we don't approve of authoritarian, totalitarian or collectivist governments. Let us also agree that it isn't our responsibility to change those governments. Nor to impose our tradition of individual freedom on other countries even though the world would be a better place if all people had our freedom. This must be the philosophy guiding our State department with regard to the Soviet Union, where totalitarianism and denial of human rights is standard procedure. We continue to seek friendship with the rulers in the Kremlin, selling them our technology and our wheat. We even lend them the money so they can buy more. And so it is with any number of other dictatorships with which we have diplomatic and trade relations. But what is hard to explain is our inability to forgive any character flaws at all in those nations which have been our friends and allies back through the years. I won't attempt a listing of all our friends and neighbors who have felt the sting of our disapproval, but I would like to take the case of one for examination. Down in South America, probably no nation went farther in striving for democracy and individual freedom than Chile. That is, Chile before the election of the late President wikipedia:Salvador_Allende Salvador Allende. Allende was a Marxist and took Chile down the road to socialism. Inflation reached 1000 percent. Businesses of all kinds were nationalized. Journalists who have made an honest effort to talk with the Chilean man-in-the-street report that there would have been a people's revolt if the military overthrow of the Allende regime had not taken place. After the Coup, General Augusto Pinochet (PEE-NO-CHET) was made President of Chile. He set out to restore the economy of the nation. He promised to restore democratic rule also and to allow elections. True, they haven't taken place as yet, but there is reason to believe that if and when they do the general might just be the favorite candidate if he chooses to run. Since 1975 the government of Chile has employed the Gallup organization to do polling twice a year. Gallup does this under an arrangement which insures there can be no interference by the government. As of now 67 percent of the people approve of the present government and 70 percent want no election now. Regarding President Pinochet, 70 percent find him decent and humane, 82 percent find him capable and decisive, 63 percent find him moderate, 57 percent find him fair, 53 percent consider him suitable for public office and 70 percent find him likeable. Maybe those polls are influenced by the fact that prosperity is coming back, inflation has dropped to a fraction of what it was and the food shortages are gone. Sounds like a country getting back on its feet -- and a good one to be friends with. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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