Horne - Small Earthquake in Chile

To compaero Bill, the greatest of fellow-travellers and compaera Nena

I am delighted to be able to write this foreword to the newly revised and enlarged edition of Small Earthquake in Chile. It is essential to consider the new edition against the background of developments and change in Latin America which is a convenient shorthand, like Asia or Africa, for an important geographical region. In this case all the nations except one speak Spanish. However, the dreams of Bolvar and San Martn for a unified continent were never realized, and each nation has developed clearly identifiable and distinctly different national characteristics. In 1972 military governments dominated the political scene and democracy appeared in retreat. Many factors have contributed to the reversal of this trend during the 1980s the oil upheaval and change in the terms of trade, foreign debt and, to some extent, the events in Chile.

Fate and chance play a major part in all our lives, but I have always considered it a matter of great good fortune that I went to work in Chile as a young aspiring executive. Arriving there in the mid-1950s, I fell in love with the country at first sight and have returned with great frequency for thirty-four years. I remember on one such visit in mid-1973 that talk of military action dominated all conversation. At the time I argued strenuously with friends that the cause of democracy would be better served by waiting to the legitimate end of the Presidential administration. Unfortunately it became increasingly obvious that the Constitution was being manipulated to perpetuate the totalitarian system, and this led inevitably to the tragic events of September 1973.

The Chilean armed forces have always seen themselves as guardians of the Constitution, and it is therefore with admiration and increasing expectation that 1990 will see the restoration of normal democratic procedures. Sixteen years of military government may have seemed an eternity to those who yearned for the re-establishment of the liberal democratic tradition to which Chile had so long been accustomed, but will not appear so long when viewed in historical perspective. Although not reflected in the international press, Pinochet has enjoyed quite extraordinary popularity until quite recently across a wide spectrum of Chilean society. There is clearly an underlying feeling of gratitude to him for saving the nation from the chaos left by the Allende government. The problem, however, for any absolute ruler during a very long reign is that it inevitably creates a sense of infallibility, and Pinochet has been no exception. However, it is remarkable, and may even be unique, for any military dictatorship systematically to plan and faithfully carry through its own demise.

A serious analysis of this period of Chilean history will reveal both good and bad points. On the debit side there have undoubtedly been abuses of human rights, understandable in the early days following the downfall of Allende, when emotions ran high and a civil-war mentality existed, but not thereafter in a country where the rule of law and system of justice has always had such a long tradition. The conflict between Church and State has also been significant, and has polarized views in a mainly Catholic country with liberation theology competing for attention with the more conservative elements of both the Catholic hierarchy and laity.

On the credit side the social achievements include investment in health care, education, housing infrastructure and regional development which have all made vast progress in a most difficult international climate, with adverse trading conditions, including rising import costs and falling copper export prices. In 1973 the economy was in a state of near collapse with galloping inflation and zero growth. What has happened since has been a veritable transformation. After a period of experimentation, pragmatism became the watchword. Thus, with the exception of the crisis of 19823, Chile has experienced low inflation and continual growth. The shackles of state intervention have been cast off and market forces allowed to apply without diminishing social benefit. If the present formula for success continues, Chile should emerge as the most advanced, well balanced and dynamic economy in Latin America, poised to enter the twenty-first century with greater prosperity and prospects than any country in the region.

In these circumstances, it is sad that Chile has been the subject of an exceptional campaign of destabilization and vilification in the international press, mainly inspired by exiles from the Allende period, but assisted generally by left-wing sympathizers. When Small Earthquake in Chile came out first in 1972, it was not well received by the liberal-minded critics, many of whom were enthusiastic about the Marxist experiment in Chile which had polarized national feelings and brought the economy to the brink of ruin. It remains a mystery why socialism is considered so much more exciting and intellectually stimulating than other more efficient and dynamic socio-economic systems. Sadly very little action has been taken to redress the balance to provide objectivity. Chile has a natural isolationist tendency, caused partly by the remoteness of the country and partly by the geophysical circumstances, with high Andes mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. To this must be added the intransigence concerning international affairs that has been demonstrated by President Pinochet which, in these days of increasing international interdependence, is something which Chile can ill afford.

Against this background the re-publication of Small Earthquake in Chile is so very timely, especially as additional chapters have been added covering the period that has elapsed since the original publication and on the authors recent visit to Chile. Alistair Horne is a most distinguished historian and biographer. His books on European history are considered amongst the most authoritative and have achieved critical acclaim. He has also been a friend since we were contemporary undergraduates at Cambridge; the friendship established in those nostalgic university days has remained, and included visits in Europe together, which invariably produced journalistic results. Hornes historical knowledge and incisive mind have turned travel writing into a political art which is nowhere more evident than in this book. It is significant that such a talented writer should turn, and then turn again, his attention to Chile, and light up an important subject in a most objective and unprejudiced style.

Montgomery of Alamein

President of Canning House

Hampshire

It makes me indeed happy to know that Alistair Hornes South America book, centring on Chile, 1971, will be reissued; happy for personal and other reasons. These last are best explained by saying that there is very nearly as much to learn today from what Mr Horne observed about Latin America as there was when he wrote. A better formulation is this, that what he wrote then is even more important to dwell upon than it was at the time, given seventeen years of history which have served as a reinforcing epilogue to the book.

And then there is the personal point. I have known the author a very long time and, since it is likelier he will write my obituary than I his (I smoke cigars), I see no reason to turn down this opportunity to write a few lines about him of the kind his biographers are unlikely to come up with. He is of course a very distinguished historian and the literate world knows all about his exemplary books on the great French crises of 1870 (the Commune), 1914 (World War I), 1940 (World War II), and 1956 (Algeria). And most recently, of course, his great biography of Harold Macmillan. The book on Chile, as it was with other books of his on Canada, Napoleon, the United States were, by his herculean standards, incidental enterprises. But his standards are unusual.