CHILE: Isabel Allende

The National Museum of Women in Arts (hitherto unknown to me) sponsored a meeting on international affairs at which the novelist Isabel Allende spoke before an audience consisting largely of Latin American women. Those who spoke from the audience seemed emotional and not especially well-informed, complaining about the US treatment of Afghans with no discussion of the terrorist problem. Isabel Allende herself was charming, well-informed and convincing. Being a niece of Socialist President Salvador Allende, who committed suicide during a military coup which brought Pinochet to power, she has a special viewpoint, but she spoke rationally. She accused the conservative newspaper El Mercurio of actually encouraging President Allende to commit suicide as President José María Balmaceda had done in 1891.

Chileans who know about this view it as a precedent for the US-backed coup which overthrew Allende.There was a revolt against Balmaceda in the north, which Congress carried to the national scene, with the conservatives generally backing the rebels. The Navy sided with the rebels, the Army with the President. The Army decided not to fight the Navy, and the rebels won. Balmaceda took refuge in the Argentine Embassy, and , at the end of his presidential term, committed suicide. The US became involved because of the USS "Baltimore" incident. The ship was docked in Valparaíso harbor. Some sailors on shore leave became involved in a brawl, rather like when drunken US sailors on shore leave in Havana in this century urinated on the statue of the national hero, José Martí. In the latter case, the US apologized profusely, but in the "Baltimore" case the Chilean government apologized. As a result of all this, Balmaceda became the hero of the left.

The conservatives already had their hero, Diego Portales, who controlled Chile from 1830 to 1837. He was killed in 1837 by a colonel who opposed the war with Peru and was thought to be a Peruvian agent. Back to the history textbook project. It would be interesting to see how, under different regimes, they have treated the heroes of the two parties. It is like the Bolivar versus Santander historical dispute in Colombia.

Isabel Allende's stepfather was ambassador to Argentina, and she spoke of the meals they had together with Salvador Allende when her stepfather visited Santiago. She mentioned the conversations, but did not say if Salvador Allende contemplated taking refuge in the Argentine Embassy, like Balmaceda. It is unlikely, since the Argentine regime was sympathetic to his enemies, although in Latin America the right of diplomatic asylum is considered sacred.

Isabel Allende despises Nixon and Kissinger, but otherwise her attitude to the United States is favorable. She lives in the US and likes it. Once a year she visits Chile, where her mother still lives. She loves her native country, but feels cooped up there. The most touching part of her talk was when she spoke of the death of her daughter. As an ambassador of cultural goodwill between Chile and the US, she plays a unique role.

Ronald Hilton - 2/24/02