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The Communist Party of Chile,
with over 150,000 members, re-
cently celebrated the 50th an-
niversary of its founding. As the
fraternal delegate representing
the Communist Party of Can-
ada, of which he is the leader,
William Kashtan participated in
the celebration events that start-
ed Jan. 2 and ended with a giant
rally on Jan. 8 in Santiago’s
National Stadium. This is the
story he gave the Canadian Tri-
bune about his memorable visit
to Chile: .

Like our party, the Commun-
ist Party of Chile has also
reached 50 years of age. This
was the occasion for a whole
series of events dramatizing
the five decades of struggle for
socialism.that it has been en-
gaged in. While significant in it-
self, the 50th anniversary coin-
cided with Chile’s new stage of
development represented by the
Popular Unity government led
by President Allende and of
which the Communist Party of
Chile is a part.

The celebration of its 50th an-
niversary was, therefore, a com-
bination of looking back over
the past record of the Commun-
ist Party of Chile, and of urgent
tasks facing the democratic
forces, as they arise from the
new possibilities of advancing
to socialism.

This is why the event was not
limited to supporters of the CP
of Chile. In a sense, the whole
Popular Unity movement cele-
brated this 50th anniversary,
and in one way or another took
part in it..

Indeed, at the concluding and
largest meeting of the celebra-
tions, President Allende spoke
together with Luis Corvalan, the
general secretary of the Com-
munist Party of Chile, a striking
expression of the firm unity of
Communists and Socialists and
of the strength and support the
Communists have among the
working people.

The events taking place in
Chile are of great international
significance. That is why so
many fraternal parties, 36 of
them including our own, parti-
cipated in the 50th anniversary
celebrations. They came from all
continents, and expressed the
solidarity of the Communist and
Workers parties with the
Chilean revolution and its aims.

Spoke at Meetings

During our stay we were in-
vited to speak at various meet-
ings. These included an open-
air meeting in Santiago, meet-
ings with the workers in the
Chilectric plant and in the Jarul
textile plant, with representa-
tives of the political parties in
these industries, with farm
workers in an agrarian reform
centre outside Santiago, meet-
ings with workers engaged in
the fruit processing industry,
and with a number of Commun-
ist Parties’ delegations. This was
typical of the program of all
fraternal delegates.

In addition it was possible to
hold discussions with Comrade
Corvalan, as well as with Com-
rade Teitelboim, member of the
political bureau of the Commun-
ist Party of Chile.

Near the end of our stay, the
Popular Unity government or-
ganized a reception for all the
fraternal delegations, where. it
was possible to meet President
Allende and to express our soli-
darity with his government and
its program.

Chile has nationalized her mining industry ending foreign control of one of i
*

Chilean Revolution

Developments in Chile are of
great international significance.
What is taking place there is a
democratic revolution paving
the way for socialism. This is
taking place under complex con-
ditions, arising in part from the
fact that while the president
was elected by popular majority
vote, parliament as such has a
majority opposed to his govern-
ment’s policies. '

For example, of the 150 depu-
ties in parliament, 62 comprise

the Popular Unity movement’s:

representation. This situation is
made use of by reaction to try
to impede, slow down and
defeat the government. What
stands in reaction’s way is the
fact that the constitution ac-
cords certain powers to the
president to enact measures in
the interests of the Chilean
people.

These constitutional powers
have been made use of to under-
take nationalization of a num-
ber of industries, particularly
U.S.-owned
the banks and to undertake ex-
propriation of the land of the
big landowners. Nationalization
has also included the copper
mines, iron mines, charcoal and
steel industries. The state now
controls the textile industry and,
in fact, 60% of all Chilean in-
dustry. Almost 80% of the
banks are now nationalized.

Redistribute Income

The program of nationaliza-
tion went together with special
concentration on the necessity
of redistributing the national in-
come in favor of the working
people, stimulating industrial
production and curbing - infla-
tionary tendencies. Before the
Allende government, Chilean in-
dustry worked at 60-65% of ca-
pacity. Since 1970 industrial
production has increased by
12%. Inflation has been curbed,
although not yet eliminated.

These government measures
have brought about an increase
of 200,000 new jobs and at the
same time have helped to raise
the purchasing power of the
working people.

In carrying through these
measures the government has
also been faced with some nega-

‘tive features. The price of cop-

per on the world market has
dropped, creating difficulties in
Chile’s international balance of
payments. Some food shortages

PACIFIC TRIBUNE-—FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1972—-PAGE 10

industries and of

have developed, specifically of
meat, arising from the fact that
the cattle-owners have either
killed their cattle or taken them
to Argentina.

In addition, the United States

has begun to exert pressure on.

Chile, using the fact that Chile
has a foreign debt of $4 billion,
owing mainly to the USA. To
pay off that debt would take
40% of the national income,
causing a catastrophic drop in
the living standards of the peo-
ple.
Reaction’s Subversion

Reaction has striven to turn
some of the negative features in
this situation to its own advan-
tage. For a period of time there
was quiet; now the reactionaries
feel a more favorable situation
exists for them, as they exert
every possible effort to subvert
the deep desire of the Chilean
people for change.

This point was emphasized
time and time again: the major-
ity of the people want funda-
mental change, provided it is
achieved within the terms of
the constitution, The Commun-
ist Party has stated that it fully
concurs in this. It works to
achieve fundamental change
within the framework of the
constitution, while at the same
time basing itself on the
strength and the historic role of

‘SANTIAGO — 90,000 people
filled the National Stadium here
Jan. 8 in the culminating cele-
bration of the 50th anniversary
of the Communist Party of
Chile. A

This was the first time that a
single political party had ever
filled the stadium, and the rally
marked a stinging defeat for
the reactionary drive against the

Popular Unity government of

President Salvador Allende. The
event was broadcast throughout
Chile on the national television
and radio networks.

The colorful and enthusiastic

crowd included 10,000 members ~*

of the Communist Youth of
Chile carrying Chilean flags.
Masses of red-garbed members
of the Ramona Parra brigades
of the Communist Youth enact-
ed a spectacular, moving page-

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“richest resources.

the working class.

The 50th anniversary celebra-
tions were aimed to rouse the
working class for ever stronger
efforts to raise’ production, to
prevent civil war which reaction
is trying to foment, to stop
criminal sedition, and to attack
and to isolate reaction.

Comrade Corvalan emphasized
the fact: “We do not consider
civil war as desirable. We con-
sider civil war as reactionary in
our conditions.”

Widen Support

The Communist Party of Chile
is giving considerable attention
to the need for widening the
basis of support for the Allende
government. Socialist-Commun-
ist unity was essential for unit-
ing the forces of the working
class, particularly the organized
labor movement. Now. in face
of the efforts of reaction to es-
tablish a mass base among sec-
tions of the middle class, .the
CP of Chile considers it of great
importance to extend unity to
include those political forces
that are based on the middle
class and which can be won for
a progressive policy. What is in-
volved here is the winning of
support from sections of the
Christian Democrats.

At the concluding 50th anni-
versary giant rally this point
was made by both Corvalan and

ant portraying the history of
the Chilean working class and
Communist Party.

Luis Corvalan, general sec-
retary of the Communist Party,
and President Allende addressed
the rally, whose central theme
was the unity of all people’s
forces and parties in building a
better life and preparing the
transition to socialism.

Seated in the front were the
leaders of all the parties and
movements in the Popular Unity
coalition. In addition, 30 foreign
Communist Party delegations
were seated in the honor box.

In his speech, Corvalan
stressed the solidarity of the
Communist Party with all sec-
tions of the working people. In
a moving presentation, he enu-
merated each of these actions
and what Popular Unity means,

“government.

Allende, as they emphi
need to break down
tendencies that could §
the way of broadening
of support for the Popu

All in all, while poin
the dangers i
what was most evident’
where was the confideml
the determination of th
cratic forces to adva
aims.

Popular . Celebra
Wherever one went one’
see indications of the
niversary of the Comll
Party of Chile. Literally ™
walls of the country are
with slogans marking the?
50th «anniversary, greets
tro when he came to Chilé
expressing support for

This mammoth painull
was undertaken by the ¥
member Young Comm!
League. Their outstanding!
which added color to Uk
brations, reflected th
strength the Communist’
has among the cultural fob
Chile, all of whose outsié
personalities are either m@
or supporters of the patt
giving it that extra quail!
power which cannot but ®
the whole life of the ©
people. oS

Before leaving Chile, 1)
told that one can expect @™
complex situation to devél!
cause of the increasing P
of U.S. imperialism, in ©?
with reaction inside
against the Allende govel!

This underlines the ne
strong international so
and support to the Chileat
jution. This is well undet
in the socialist countries, ©
all in the Soviet Union ©
has already undertaken 4
of measures to help strelk
the Chilean economy ait
country’s independence.

The working people °
country will not be indi
to the developments in ©
They can learn much ff)
way in which the Chileal
ple, led by the Popular
movement, have _ streng?
their sovereignty and have
ed the door to democrat
vance and socialism. The
and democratic forces of
ada must oppose any all
by U.S. imperialism to int
in the internal affairs of OU

for resolving their problems

Corvalan was followed })
lende, who paid tribute
past and present role 0
Chilean Communist Party:
placed special emphasis 0!
problems of women, 4a
clared 1972 “The Year of
men and Youth.”

Both speakers stressed
reality and solidity of the
lar Unity coalition, the g0
ment’s dedication to legal ml
and its opposition to civil

The triumphant meetin
ded force to Corvalan’s
ing that if the Right ali
“we will not turn the |
cheek.”

(While Christian Dem
retained the two seats in
by-elections were held last}
it was with greatly rei
majorities.)