This declassified CIA Foreign Documents Division report from 1965 is based off of translated sections from a Chilean article written by Ernesto Solovera P. Both the article and the report talks about alleged American intervention throughout Latin America during the Cold War, which Solovera P strongly criticizes (along with the US, Wall Street, and the Pentagon) along with wider anti-communist movements. Specific examples cited by Solovera P include references to CIA activities during the 1964 Chilean presidential election, which he uses as basis for broader accusations against the American government’s operations in nations seeking greater political and economic independence.
This source is a rare primary source that explores Latin American voices, especially one that includes intellectuals and political activists. It shows how people viewed American influence during the Cold War in Latin America as not necessarily positive and often actually negatively. Unlike many American intelligence reports that focused on Soviet expansion, this document reveals strong anti-American sentiment and portrays the United States as an imperial power attempting to dominate Latin American economies, governments, and militaries, citing US intervention as a key factor in Latin American instability and poverty. While the report doesn’t explicitly state this, the excerpts of Solovera P describe why anti-American nationalism throughout the region was rising, which was a key factor in allowing Soviet intervention in the region.
Source:
CIA Foreign Documents Division. 1965. US Intervention in Latin America. Translated excerpts from article by Ernesto Solovera P. Santiago, July 13, 1965.