CHILE
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
A democratically-elected left wing socialist coalition led by President Allende governed Chile from December 1970 to September 1973, when it was violently deposed by a military coup d'etat during which the President died. Under the military régime which succeeded it treatment of political opponents and violations of human rights aroused worldwide condemnation, although Chile's record is
now probably no worse than those of many other
countries. But Chile's international image remains
poor.
2. The Labour Government of 1974-1979 took a series
of measures, both bilateral and in international
fora, with the aim of exerting pressure on the Junta to respect human rights and the rule of law. Aid
payments were cut off and new arms sales banned. HM
Ambassador was recalled from Santiago at the end of 1975, in protest against the torture of a British
subject, Dr Sheila Cassidy, and was withdrawn definitively at the end of July 1976. Britain received some 3,000 political refugees from Chile. At the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Commission we helped to prepare all resolutions condemning the Junta for human rights violations; and we supported the establishment of a UN Trust Fund for Chilean
victims of repression and their families.
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CONFIDENTIAL