Where Does Chile Go From Here?

Last September 4, the people of Chile went to the polls to elect a new President for the next six years. The President whose term was ending, Jorge Alessandri, was prevented by constitutional provision from succeeding himself. To prevent the election of the Communist-supported Socialist candidate, Salvador Allende, the Conservative and Liberal factions swung over to support of the Christian Democrats, and the Christian Democratic candidate, Eduardo Frei Montalva, was elected by a popular vote of 56 per cent.

On the surface, this looked like a clear-cut victory for the anti-Com- munists. In his acceptance speech, Frei declared his determination to work for the common good of all the nation, and asked God’s protection to help him carry out the mission entrusted to him. Both Catholic and secular papers in the United States generally accepted the outcome of the election as a victory of good over evil. One paper rhapsodized that “a noble experiment with far reaching ramifications is about to begin.” How Noble the Experiment?

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Thomas Mitchell

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Last September 4, the people of Chile went to the polls to elect a new President for the next six years. The President whose term was ending, Jorge Alessandri, was prevented by constitutional provision from succeeding himself. To prevent the election of the Communist-supported Socialist candidate, Salvador Allende, the Conservative and Liberal factions swung over to support of the Christian Democrats, and the Christian Democratic candidate, Eduardo Frei Montalva, was elected by a popular vote of 56 per cent.

On the surface, this looked like a clear-cut victory for the anti-Com- munists. In his acceptance speech, Frei declared his determination to work for the common good of all the nation, and asked God’s protection to help him carry out the mission entrusted to him. Both Catholic and secular papers in the United States generally accepted the outcome of the election as a victory of good over evil. One paper rhapsodized that “a noble experiment with far reaching ramifications is about to begin.” How Noble the Experiment?