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UK government document reveals attitude to Chile, Catholic Church, after killing of Allende


President Salvador Allende

President Salvador Allende

A PhD student at Cambridge studying British policy towards Chile has come across a document in the National Archives, which reveals that the British government had a somewhat duplicitous attitude towards Chile, days after the assassination of President Allende and military coup which brought in the Pinochet dictatorship. It advised that a Catholic organisation holding a memorial service for Allende was 'left-wing but not Communist front'.

The text, supplied by Grace Livingstone, follows:

Letter to [FCO undersecretary] Mr Hankey, FCO, from J.M.Hunter Latin America Department, FCO, 17 Sept 1973 ‘Memorial Service for President Allende’

1. ‘The organisation ‘Christians for a Just World’ have telephoned invitations to myself and Mr Relton to attend a memorial service to be held at St Martin-in-the-Fields at 12.30 tomorrow 18 September. The service is to be taken by Monsignor Bruce Kent and the address will be given by Mrs Judith Hart.

2. IRD know of ‘Christians for a Just World’ as a somewhat inactive left-wing but not Communist front organisation.

3. The opposition and the Left are demanding that we should not recognise the Chilean Government and suspend aid. We shall certainly be resuming relations with the new government in a week or so if Ministers see no objection, and our European partners accept this timing, on which a submission is in preparation. I think therefore that we must make every effort to disarm opposition criticism as far as possible by expressing sympathy with the old President and his family to the extent compatible with the resumption of relations with the new government.

4. I recommend accordingly that I should attend the service and sign the book if any as Head of Latin America department, but that higher officials (or Ministers if any are invited) should not attend.

5. [handwritten] Since dictating the above I have learnt that the Secretary of State may be invited. But the recommendation stands’

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