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8/20/1962 - Latin America and the United States by Pat M. Holt

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS PH Aboard SS Mormacscan Latin America United States En route Buenos Aires New York August Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte The situation Latin America whole deterlora substantially there grounds continue The trouble basic political From Tijuana TSerra Fuego massive discontent subjecting olitial structures severe strains Ina countries exlco political structures sufficiently stable developed withstand these strains point In others Brazil Argentlra Peru structures fragmenting In still others Colombia lesser extent Vene zuela become strgager But balance taking Latin America whole political institutions become This raises grave painful questions United States policy As developed since World War II policy passed through broad stages During first stage which ended summer US approach Latin Americm founded general premise primarily economic could cured massive investment assuming Latins created proper climate loans Export Import Bank Anternational Bank Reconstruction Development modicum technical asslstmnce In second stage US approach founded general premise Latin Amerlcm primarily social cured reform redistri bution progressive income taxes hnestly collected housing projects educational programs improved health facilities These approaches course inconsistent being combination But reasingly apparent taken either separately together reach heart problem therefore adequate policies But neither totally ineffective Vitamin pills pneumonim peripheral benefit strengthening patient general constitutlon PIH The United States interest Latin America economic social political Even takes narrow which emphasizes strategic economic interests United States apparent these interests solidly protected political means growth governments south Rio Grande which oriented general United States There course great diversity I intend imply Latin American governments should image United States But reasons ranging grand strategy nation defense through economics US trade investment bread butter question votes United Nations United States needs governments Latin Amerlcg which things These governments arise reasonably rooted stable democratic political institutions Past present US plicies toward Latin America justified major grounds economic develop social reform would facilitate development political institutions The argument general improvement standards living combined restructuring social order remove causes discontent thereby reduce strains political institu tions This valid argument deals problem One could reasonably argue United States during period emphasizing private investment political stability requisite economic growth Support argument found Colombia which notable political progress country South America where complaints every about slowness Alliance Progress At other extreme economic Argentina traceable major political weaknesses So classic conundrum chicken But Once process economic social change begun likely increase discontent alleviate Thus strains placed political structures intensified rather lessened Furthermore consequences economic social change particularly traditional society utterly unpredictable The Alliance Progress works enormous gamble It contributing weakening societies Latin America static years thereby contributing unleashing enormously powerful forces assurance direction which these forces PIH I Yet Alliance gamble taken Change inevitably coming Latin America result things among which important better connunl cations impact growing industrialization principally under stimulus private foreign investment The change increasing continue increase whether there Alliance whether there With Alliance exert influence direction change though silly think control Without Alliance something influence practic The Alliance working though called failure One reason working found bureaucracies United States Latin America Another reason found Latin A merican political structures strong enough eople dominate enlightened scared enough instltte reforms which Alliance rightly demands The government Venezuelm example democratically orlented reform minded Well before Alliance Progress conceived government nderway Alliance programs reform education housing But Venezuelmn government under stant violent attack Communists Castro elements ensuing political turmoil inhibits progress Peru affords example different For months before June election excuse given approach election precluded positive government action election revealed political groups closely divided Peru military government which going elections June egnwhile stalemate continues In Brazil Argentina crises moment received emergency treatment balance payments currency stabilization largely prevented launching carrying range programs designed rather palliate In almost everywhere political framework unstable Alliance never really chance ground The shakiness political framework reasons resurgence military influence countries It really problem Latin American military tends outrageously arrogant aggressive undlscilSned upper ranks extravagant rlghteos contemptuous civilian control All quite question civilian control slded One military ought accept almys without grumbling United States Europe The other civilians ought exercise And where there civilians capable exercising where public general either timid indifferent demand should surprised military steps vacuum Perhaps distressing aspect military coups Peru Argentina people either those countries seemed The sadness tacle compounded Orwellian which generals engaged flagrant insurrection piously announced preserve democracy constitutional processes A Latin American military resurgence misreading United States policies tentions Especially since Punta Este conference January gotten around military conservative circles parts Latin America important terion which United States judged Latin American government attitude toward communism general Castro partlclar The Latins wanted believe anyway further encouragement United States Argentine March US reaction Peru July something things straight The United States needs exmmlne policies towards Latin American military These policies gradually shifted years outright alliance military efforts influence These efforts taken military assistance which variously rationalized necessary hemispheric defense ternal security military training programs Panama continental United States which rationalized helpful orienting Latin American officers towards principle civilian control In military assistance purpose appeasing Latin American milltary anything effect giving things Jet planes destroyers happy This worked Worse embittered Latin American civil think money could better invested economic social projects Nor program training Latin American officers United States produced worthy results The relationship military assistance internal security somewhat complicated There occasions which internal security ceases political police problem becomes military least miltary There accordingly great temptation engage guerrilla training programs furnish other types guerrilla military assistance These activities should undertaken extreme caution No country Latin America compared remotely Laos Viet Nam Latin America internal security problems susceptible military solutions easily exaggerated It significant countries greatest internal security problems Colombia Yenezuela ealing successfully using mainly their resources There perhaps programs designed engage Latin American military essentially civilian activities public works community action programs These worthwhile continuing should expanded until experience accumulated On balance efforts reform Latin American military slimmest prospects success We should therefore devote major efforts persuading military submit civilian control strengthening civilian sector capable exercising control The question arises shore civilian political framework In searching answer question oppressed great feeling lessness The answer United States concerned little Any comntry political institutions liarly They reflection history culture scale values They susceptible marginally external influences A comntry ideology distinguished insti tutions organizes apply ideology course considerable external influence Two people greatest influence Latin America since Karl Marx Thomas Jefferson When Marxist ideology prevails Cuba institutional strctmre carry imported But Jeffersonian ideology which humane therefore complex simple One weaknesses United States propg ganda effort Latin America ideological little practical concentrated selling ideology Jefferson without telling buyers effect This deliveri washing machine without instructions It noted passing acteristics Latin America enormous between theoretlcl A Latin American tends something written And example there great advanced social legislation which carried because beyond means country support But structures Latin American governments deliberately superficial resemblance United States The constitutions Latin American countries contain sections modelled United States Bill Rights albeit print N excepts It these noble sentiments violated frequently observed But theft exist tribute powerful ideological influence emanating United States first quarter century The problem United States third quarter Oth century Latin America translate these ideals reality This problem about which United States little because solution whatever acceptable practical worked Latin Americans themselvss But although United States little something doing It could example explicit Latin Americans choices facing without attempting influence their decisions One causes political troubles varying degrees Latin Americans between desire preserve their traditioal desire enjoy higher standard living which modern indus trial economy makes possible These desires incompatible Latin Americans therefore faced series painful their scale social values Do their Then themselves patron plant there death family Do steel plants refrigerator factories television Then accept impersonal corporate management least semblance discipline industrial labor force Do efficiency their business management civil service which these things possible Then revise their conception family responsibilities nepotism becomes scandal instead Very Latin Americans clearly realize these choices before vaguely worlds They benefits their traditional ternalism without disadvantages They benefits individual initiative without risks without initiative either matter In short material comforts Oth century cultural social atmosphere They these things because United States country because these things inherently impossible combination It United States advise Latin America choices ought dilemma Everybody scale values presumptious imply somebody better worse But realistic recognize logical consequences given values United States ought point Latin Amerlcans these consequences PItH El This really heart Alliance Progress which based valid premise present Ltin American social structures support modern economic political institutions But Alliance Progress presented Latin Americans United States their governments nebulous goodism which gringo magic bring better house school wider ownership overnight least The choices posed Alliance sufficiently clear explicit Ltln America itical turmoil comes major frustrations efforts avoid making these choices realization choices efforts grasp dilemma The turmoil compounded exceptions political institutions Latin America extremely fragile really rooted political leadership either totally lacking spread extremely In order strengthen leadership especially strengthen middle lower levels United States ought continue expand program making possible political leaders potential tical leaders receive training which useful visits United States study Ameri universities contact American institutions And program ought given explicit political orientation caution should injected against overusing Puerto Rico model Latin Americans think Puerto Rico relevant their problems If going follow Puerto Rican example Latlns United States should vantages given Puerto Hico But there Latin America itself either Puerto Rico continental United States AID predecessors example considerable emphasis results unlversity unier contracts strengthen Latin American teaching nomlcs business administration agriculture But I nothing along political science I would expect proposal encounter resistance Latin American universities resistance ought insuperable Aside formal arrangements USIA Foreign Service could imagination judiciously making available selected materials pertinent problems young struggling political groups labor unions associations business individual editors commentators This distribution PMH USIA comic subtle sledgehammer United States terrors Cuba Nor mimeograph machines It means rather Foreign Service USIA officer saying friend By This happen could usefully happen often USIA might quietly facil itate preparation reports Latin American country another For example Communist leadership thrown union Cal might possibly relevant democratic elements union facing problem Santiago It would certainly great relevant collective bargaining conducted United States automobile industry Much ought strictly private people people basis simply generate international understanding goodwill simply improve Latin American image United States calculatedly Latin Americans create kinds organizations country political stability A example I promising start League Women Voters working counterpart group Colombia It would thing I think I written before somebody injected American influence Institute P olitical Education San Jose Costa Rica possible Institute offer scholarships Latin American students It thing Democratic Republican National Committees provided scholarship talented carefully selected young North American course Institute This would produce votes which object these committees would either Or maybe American Political Science Association could A great ought through ORIT Iner American Regional Labor Organization democratic labor unions Latin America money leaderslIp training programs tailored specifically needs Latin America These obvious examples One could almost endlessly There obstacles One large organizations United States large numbers qualified personnel spare The other costs money activities involved large extent foreign principal poses organizations This would fertile field fondatlons If interest United States foster sbable political development Latin America shoat interest policies meantime hemispheric unity preserved United Nations OAS other reason These short interests lways compatible In order promote protect interests United States needs identify itself rising groups which gaining increasing political power Latin America These groups intellectuals labor radical agrarian movements generally companions US traditionall fortable But Communist feasible alternative communism Conservatism alter native because cannot conservative greater acuum leaves behind Nor military government alternative ilitary governments extremely brittle When break either chaos Dominican Republic communism Cuba But governments Latin America still basically conservs dominated military governments matter practical diplomacy United States business It requires skill shown tightrope between conservative military governments rising radical movements other But effort This heart dilemnm confronting US policy Latin Amerlcao N things suggested letter range programs confronted short range crises There simple dilemma Other things being equal which course never I inclined thumb sacrifice short But being rigidly doctrinaire surest disaster Although US policy subject criticism being doctrinaire subject greater criticism being generalized _lthough United States could described Latin American policy rarely exican policy Argentine policy Venezuelan policy except policy could fitted under general umbrella Events likely Latin America years The Alliance Progress hemispheric defense doctrines OAS Rio Treaty P I policies sufficient policies What needed series country depth these ought discriminatory I discriminatory invidious sense sense rewarding friends small favors punishing enemies small I sense distinguishing between important range interests United States There involved careful identification friends really particularly really There professional friend United States Latin America usually found traditional ruling class His interests interests United States parallel But doesn realize United States beginning realize passing quickly He wants preserve privileged position cannot preserved There nothing gained offending unnecessarily clear oncerned There involved careful dlscrlmina fixing scale priorities US interests If existed could whatever wanted Latin America since A small concession gracefully effective tecting larger interests grudgingly A pollcy maker realizes diplomat carries adroitly ought publicly commended their foresight damned likely striped pants giveaway Finally there involved problem keeping things perspectlve In world La America important estern Europe In Latin America Cuba important Brazil The Communist threat Latin America deserves taken seriously threat which arises strength Communists weakness Communist The Communist policy strengthen these nesses A policy based purely simply communism likely sterile ineffective But unavoidable although future Latin America influenced Washington cannot determined Washington Moscow either matter As Latin Americans complain control their destiny And grasp significance P H I begin future southwards confidence Sincerely Pat M Holt P S I cannot series newsletters without personal thanks Institute Current World Affairs Senate Foreign Relations Committee making possible I should record gratitude hundreds Latin Americans received curious stran unfailing courtesy Without their patient generous these letters could written I leave Latin America feeling genuine regret affection Received New York August