The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.33           September 21, 1998 
 
 
25 And 50 Years Ago  
SEPT. 12 - Proclaiming that their mission was "to fight for the liberation of the fatherland from the Marxist yoke," a four-man military junta ousted [Chilean] President Salvador Allende Sept. 11, seized control of the government, declared a state of siege, and imposed censorship and a curfew. The electoral victory of Allende's Popular Unity coalition in September 1970 was the result of a powerful mass upsurge of the Chilean working class and peasantry.

A general pay increase, averaging about 35 percent, was won. Extensive nationalizations were carried out, and land reform programs were speeded up. Political prisoners were set free, and a special riot police unit was disbanded. It was necessary to follow up these gains in a consistent revolutionary way. This required a mass revolutionary party built on Leninist lines. In the absence of such a party, there was no force capable of organizing and leading the masses of peasants and workers in a successful struggle for power.

Allende and his supporters claimed that his election opened the road to a peaceful transition to socialism. However, this was belied by the fact that procapitalist parties were included in the Popular Unity formation. Allende diverted the masses from taking the road toward a socialist revolution. His real course was class collaboration.

September 20, 1948
The political balance in France today hangs by a frayed line that is giving way under the increasing strain. This is the common conclusion of spokesmen of all camps. The breaking strands are visible in the downfall of cabinets, one after the other.

Since January of last year, France has had five Premiers. Ramadier lasted less than 10 months. Schuman less than 8 months. Marie barely a month. The second Schuman Cabinet two days. No one ventures to predict more than a brief span for the new Henri Queuille Cabinet which could be formed at all only on sufferance of Queuille's friend, the fascist-minded de Gaulle.

American Big Business hopes de Gaulle will be winner in this unfolding conflict. Through the editorial columns of its press Wall Street has indicated its impatience over the political instability in France and the "desirability" of a "strong" government such as de Gaulle proposes.

Part of the impatience of American imperialism arises from its desire to consolidate Western Europe for operations against the Soviet Union. This is coupled with fear of the outbreak of a socialist revolution in France which would not only force revision of the war plans but bring Wall Street face to face with serious consequences at home as the inspiration of a new proletarian revolution resounded throughout the world.

 
 
 
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