Standing Up to the U.S.

"Either we give our democracy social and economic content or we might meet the same fate that has been met by other nations in Latin America." So said Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez, answering questions about the military threat to democracy in Latin America put by Time Inc. Editor in Chief Hedley Donovan and Chairman of the Board Andrew Heiskell. Perez, the widely-respected President of an oil-rich nation that is one of Latin America's few democracies, was interrupted by martial music from a military band passing below the window of his office in Caracas' Miraflores Palace. Perez paused, listened to the brassy march and then added: "That parade just underlines my point, doesn't it?" Some of the President's other points:

ON MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS IN LATIN AMERICA: In the past, many [Latin American] military dictatorships were very repressive, but now several of them are making an effort in the opposite direction. In any event, they represent a failure of democracy. Part of the responsibility for this situation can be attributed to the U.S. and to the countries of Western Europe. We have been subjected to exploitation, which has prevented us from developing our economies. We have been manipulated by the great powers and the multinational corporations. Whether a government is democratic or dictatorial is not a legitimate matter of concern for them. They only care about how the government behaves toward them and their interests. Of course, we must also assume our share of the responsibility for the present situation, but we believe that there has been a lack of effort on the part of developed nations to foster the economic conditions for democracy in Latin America.

ON CREATING DEMOCRACY ON THE CONTINENT: If you buy coffee for a given price and the following year you pay one-tenth of the price, and at the same time you double the price of the goods you are selling back, you are creating conditions of poverty and tension that do not lead to democracy. For example, Venezuela has always supplied oil to the U.S. When the [1973 Arab oil] embargo took place, Venezuela not only declined to join it but also increased her production to meet the needs of the American market. Nevertheless, a discriminatory trade law against OPEC members was passed in Congress. This has been used most successfully by the Communists and other anti-American groups in their propaganda.

ON LATIN AMERICAN UNITY: We are many nations and as such have our individual interests. Some years ago, of course, there was no Latin American community worth referring to. But now bonds of history and communications, as well as the fact that we have all suffered from unfair treatment, have created a Latin America. It is a mistake for the U.S. to ignore this and try to treat us separately. Mr. Kissinger opened a dialogue with Latin America at the conference in Mexico. But instead of continuing this dialogue with the joint group of Latin American countries, he began talking with [them] one by one. The process of Latin American integration is inevitable. It is quite evident that in today's world the survival of small nationalities is becoming impossible. I think this is one of the most important points for the United States to understand. We can see at international forums how Latin America is acting in unity, even in standing up to the United States.

ON THE PANAMA CANAL PROBLEM: This is going to be the critical point of relations between the United States and Latin America. The unanimous opinion of all Latin American countries is that there should be a new treaty between the United States and Panama returning sovereignty over the canal to Panama. It is not a matter of the U.S. having a base in one corner of the country but of cutting the country in half. Consequently it is a very key issue of sovereignty. If this situation is not resolved, Panama can become a keg of dynamite. The people of Panama cannot defend the canal without the United States, [but] the United States cannot guarantee the safety and security of the canal without the Panamanians. Panama understands that the canal security should continue to depend upon the United States, but in fairness they demand sovereignty over their territory.

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