by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
The Young Ecuadorians for Christian Civilization Committee is a new and rapidly growing group of students from the homeland of García Moreno. Inspired by antisocialist and anticommunist ideals that unite youth movements across most of South America, the Committee members sent a letter to President José María Velasco Ibarra, urging him not to enforce the socialist and confiscatory agrarian reform law currently in effect in the country. The document, respectful, well-argued, and clear, was published on their initiative in the Quito newspaper El Comercio on April 17. Undoubtedly, it reflects the high cultural level of Ecuadorian youth.
Even more remarkable in these times of brutality and vulgarity is the reaction of the head of state. He sent the Young Ecuadorians for Christian Civilization a response that could serve as a model of courtesy, attention, and dignity. Since it’s impossible to transcribe it in full, I will quote here its most characteristic part.
Distinguished Gentlemen, I have carefully read your April 14 statement regarding the issues of Family and Property with respect. I say I read it with respect because, in these times when everyone, including certain church leaders, discusses changing structures, liberation, revolution, and many other topics that promote sedition and chaos, those like you who defend traditional views deserve all respect.
I have carefully read your presentation because your argument is undoubtedly strong, and the viewpoints you present are transcendental.
However, I must begin by saying that I completely respect the family as it is formed. I believe that the family is where a person’s character is shaped, developed, and established, gradually opening doors to greater opportunities. I see the attempt to break up the family, to damage a child’s respect for their parents and their love for the child, and to introduce foreign elements into the family under the guise of preparing for a union of nations, as a real attack on the personalities of men and women, which is all that truly matters.
After arguing strongly in favor of land reform, the head of state concludes:
Forgive me for these concepts, written, so to speak, at the speed of the typewriter, because I have no time for anything else. I am ready to discuss these complex issues with you at length. Yours sincerely, J. M. Velasco Ibarra, President of the Republic of Ecuador.
This style defines the Ecuadorian president and even more his governing style. Style distinguishes not only a man, but also a president.
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I am pleased to note that the Young Ecuadorians for Christian Civilization were not far behind, as they responded to Mr. Velasco Ibarra:
Dear Mr. President, First of all, we would like to express our pleasant surprise at the honor of receiving a personal response from Your Excellency and thank you for considering the views of young people, including those of the Committees of Young Ecuadorians for Christian Civilization.
Your noble gesture has strengthened our members’ desire to work together with you to the best of our ability for the prosperity and greatness of our country.
We appreciate that a head of state, so busy with numerous government issues, has taken the time to speak with us and discuss the important matter of land reform. …
After respectfully but firmly reaffirming their position against land reform, they conclude:
In conclusion, since Your Excellency kindly brought up the topic of dialogue, we reaffirm the convictions we have expressed as a reflection of our dedication to the well-being of Ecuador.
We do so with the firm belief that, since our action is strictly ideological, peaceful, and legal, Your Excellency will continue supporting the free development of our campaign.
Thank you in advance for supporting the expression of patriotic and Christian voices emerging among Ecuadorian youth. Please accept our respectful greetings and the assurances of our highest regard. Antonio Chiriboga Torres, Director; Ignacio Pérez Arteta, Director.
The Ecuadorian president assured the Committee that it had plenty of freedom to act and kindly allowed it to publish the exchange of letters in the press. I am copying it from the newspaper El Comercio of May 21, 1971. El Universo of Guayaquil also published it.
This episode pays tribute to our sister country due to the noble attitude shown by both sides. Additionally, during this time of strengthening bonds among the Latin American peoples, it honors them all.
Therefore, I am pleased to present it for readers to consider.
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Another document demonstrating the moral and cultural progress of public life in our extensive Ibero-American family is the letter sent to Argentina’s president by members of the National Council of that country’s TFP concerning the removal of ideological barriers.
Here is its essential part:
As Catholics and Argentinians committed to preventing any communist victory in our homeland, we find it essential to bring the following considerations to your attention.
- Mr. Allende cannot be regarded as a typical head of state. In communist countries, the ruling party is more than just the government, and consistent with the principles adopted by the Chilean government, Allende is more the leader of a Marxist party than a traditional head of state.
This is how public opinion perceives it, even though some parts of the bourgeoisie, the clergy, and the press attempt to portray Allende as a Western-style leader. Consequently, public opinion will inevitably view your reception of him as welcoming a Marxist leader.
2. The government has a significant educational influence on the people. That’s why publicly honoring Marxist Allende is a way to encourage the Argentine people to applaud him or, if that’s not possible because the interview takes place in a remote location, at least to view the man leading the sister nation of Chile toward communism positively.
3. This also has a serious internal consequence: it tends to weaken the psychological barriers that keep most Argentines separate from the communist or Marxist minority, which aims to do in our country what Allende is doing in Chile.
As shown, the argument is skillful in its foresight and sophisticated language.
The newspapers La Nación, La Prensa, and La Razón published this letter on July 30, after it was delivered to the presidential office.
I haven’t received General Lanusse’s response yet, but I will publish it if my Argentine friends send it. I hope it lives up to the brilliant letter from the President of Ecuador.
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The three documents I am publishing exemplify a positive trend: Latin America’s moral, cultural, and political progress, which highlights the path toward economic growth, made very promising by the continent’s natural resources.