Soviet-Uruguayan relations, 1919-1966 Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Gilbert, Leah Banen, 1943- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 11/10/2021 09:37:46 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/318013 SOVIET-URUGUAYAN RELATIONS 1919-1966 by Leah Banen Gilbert A Thesis Submitted t© the Faeulty of the DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY In partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS In. the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 6 7 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfill­ ment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknow­ ledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgement the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown belowi J.^GREGOpY OSWALD I Date ' rofessor of History PRIFACI This study is a general survey of Soviet^Uruguayan relations from 1919 to 1966e Sinee relations between the two have been of a highly erratie nature9 it is necessary to clarify the entire span of these relations0 This certainly is not a definitive work on the subject® Mot being able to read Russian was a major disadvantage in preparing this thesis® Another was not having complete access to the Uruguayan newspapers s The material available was sufficient only for a basic understanding of the major events occurring between the and Uruguay® The connection of initial trade and diplomatic relations of the Soviet Union and Uruguay$, and the role of the Uruguayan Communist Party is examined in the context of Soviet foreign policy from 1919 to 19^3® Uruguay extended recognition to the Soviet Union in 1926 being the first South American nation to do so® From that time to the presents there"were only seven years9 1936=19^3» in which diplomatic relations were completely severed® However8 ties were practically non-existent in other years although they were officially intact® The Soviet Union used democratic Uruguay as a base for their political and economic operations in South America® Flagrant abuse of this led to the break in the association H i iv at the end ©f 1935® Nevertheless@ relations were re-estab­ lished in 19^3 beeamse Wruguay was sympathetic to the Soviet Union for her heroic stand in World War II. But Uruguay®s sympathy disappeared when the Cold War began even though she did not break relations6 Soviet trade relations with Uruguay had been rel­ atively insignificant when compared to UruguayBs total trade between 1925 and Stalin*® death in 1953® Since then the Soviets have been eager to expand trade and diplomatic relations in Latin America® At the same times, Uruguay has been suffering from serious economic crises® Consequently her trade with the Soviet Union in the past decade often reached as much as ten percent per year of the total trade which is more than any other Latin American country except Cuba® Full-fledged embassies were exchanged at the end of 1955s and Uruguay continues as the Soviet®® propaganda ©enter in South America® The U.S.S.B.- uses relations with Uruguay for political purposes primarilys while for the past ten years8 Uruguay has accepted'increased relations for economic reasons® I would like to extend thanks to my fatherg Mr® Leon Baneng for translating the Russian documents and to the University of Arizona Library® My husbandg Wally, deserves a special thank you for his patience and understanding® Finally9 I am indebted to Dr® J® Gregory Oswald for his advice and assistance in preparing this paper® Page P P E P A > G E o O06@OOOO@OOOOOO 0 Q OQOQO@QOQQ0QOQQQ0QQO0O®® & & O 0 O 0 5. 13. 3LIE)!P © P q O O O O O O O 0 O Q o Q O Q 0 O & Q, O Q O Q Q O & Q O & O Q & O Q' O Q Q Q O 0 & * ^ * 1 1 oo0OO©©OOOOOO0OOO0OOOOOOOOOOOO0QO0OO0OOOOO00OOO 1TX X X lo m m m Y g A LEADER IW imms AMD ACTIONS 1919=19300 * 1 Baekgx^oimd. © o 00000000 ooooooooooooo©©©© ©000000 ©'o© 1 Early Cemsmnist Activities ooooooo®o®os®o o ® •«e»o- 4 Diplomatic and Trade Relations with the Soviet Dnion®o©oooooo®ooo©©ooooo 6 20 COMMUNIST FORTUNES RISE AND DECLINE 1930-1941©®0*0, 13 Activities .of. the FCU©©oooooooooooo©©©©©©©©©©©® 13 The T erra Regime© © © 000 0 © © oeooooo©©©©© © © o©©©©©©© 15 Diplomatic and Trade Relations with the Soviet Union© ©©©©©©©©©©©©©©.o©©©© 21 3© THE WAXINC AND WANING 1942-1955o ©©.©©© © © © = © © © © © © © © © © 34 The Domestic Sceneo©©©©©©©©©.©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©© 34 Foreign Affairs with the Soviet Union© © © © © © © © © © 38 4© YEARS OF CRISIS 1955<=>I966©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©o©©©©©©©©© 48 Uruguay8s Political and Economic Situation© ©©©©©©©©©©©©o© © © © © © ©.© ©, 48 Activities of the PCU©©©©©©o©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©© 57 Communist Strategy© © © © © © ©©©o©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©® 60 Uruguay8s Trade Relations with the Soviet Union© ©©©©©©o©©©©©©-©©©©©© 62 Uruguay8 s Diplomatic Relations with the Soviet Union© ©o©©©©©©©©©© © © © © © © © 73 CONCLUSION 000 00© ©oooooo ©OOOO00©OOO®OOOO©OOO©OOOO©OO0OO© 9C APPENDIX As Comparison of Socialist and Communist Election Statistics 1922-1966© © © © © © © © © © © © © 95 APPENDIX Bs Uruguay8s Imports and Exports with the Soviet Union 1927“1938©© © © © © © © © © © © © © © © 96 APPENDIX Gs Uruguay8s Balance of Trade 1930-1964©© © © © © 97 APPENDIX Ds Election Returnss 1 9 6©©©©©©©©©©©©©i©©©©© 6 98 Vi APPENDIX Eg Foreign Delegates to Eighteenth Congress of PCU0 o®oooo®oo o,® 0 o ®o 99 APPENDIX Fg Uruguay8s Trade with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe 1938=19^80 o o o o o o0 100 APPENDIX Gg Soviet Commodity Imports from and Exports to Uruguay0oeoeooo«oeo-eeo 0 101 APPENDIX Hg Communist Party and Front Peripdipalp- in,. Wrpgpay.o& .®,,o o.0 0 o.0.0 0 .»,0,0 o * 0 102 SELECTED. BIBLICGRAPEy 0 o ® 0..O o .0 » 0iO ,0 o ,o oo@pxiivO o oiO 6000006 ,00oo 104 LIST OP TABLES Table Page ' -• f f t-< ir* 4- • / - t' lo Soviet Trade with South America®oooooos®oooo0oo0o00 ; 11 2o UruguayGNP 1955=’^-963<>®ooo o®o®o000000000000® ©0®0 ® 53 3o Uruguay8a late of x Imflaticn 1963 =-1966 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 »© ® o 0 ® ® 5^ 4® The Slump in Industrial Output Between 195^ and 19^20 o®ooooe®oooeo®eeoeoo6o®oo55 5o Established lumber of Trade and ' ■ ■ Payments Agreements in. Force Between Uruguay and the Soviet Bl@e0 o,**,**.*** 65 60 Uruguay8 s Wool Exports®&® 0osoosoeoooooeoooooeooooo®68 7o ~ Uruguay8s Balance of Trade with the U 0S 0S 0B.0«0 ® 0 0 0 0 69 80 Percentage of Uruguayfs Trade with the Communist Bloc 1 9 6 1 = 1 9 6 5 ooo©ooeo®®o®®ooooooooeo7B 9® Uruguayan Trade with Selected Countries 1955^1964ooo®o®oo®oooo®oo ®® ooo®oo®aoo 71 vii ABSTRACT Trade and diplomatic relations@ the role of the Urmgu&yan Gommtmist Party (PGB) and their relationship %@ Soviet foreign policy and Uruguay?s/internal^affairs,are covered in this general survey«, __ ^ Uruguay was the first South American nation to extend diplomatic recognition to the Soviet Union® Both diplomatic and trade relations have been characterized by fluctuations ® The Soviet Union is interested in Uruguay for political purposess and therefore^ Uruguay lias" come to be recognized as the main distribution center for communist propaganda® It was relatively easy.for the Soviet Union t© establish a base of political and economic operations in Uruguay by nature of the free and democratic society in that country® The activities'of the PGU have closely followed in- struetions from Moscow® Although the party remains small0 it has made the greatest inroads in the labor movement® Uruguay fears increased communist activity, yet at the same time, hesitates to curb this activity since many Uruguayans believe it would be contrary to the long liberal tradition Uruguay has enjoyed® But primarily for economic reasons$, Uruguay is willing to accept increased relations® " viii 6M1TER I , URUGUAY 8 A LEADER IN IDEAS AND ACTIONS 1919=1930 . Baekgrotmd . The Repitbllea Oriental del Wrugmy, the smallest Somth American nation, is wedged between Argentina and Brazil0 Its socially integrated population of 2 ,556s000^ is almost entirely of Spanish and Italian origin0 In this strongly middle class country, two=thirds of the people live in urban centers of which the main one is the capital, Montevideo, The ninety percent literacy rate is one of the highest in Latin America while the 1,3 percent rate of population growth is one of the lowest0 lost of the people, whose annual per cap­ ita income is $395, are engaged in agriculture, livestock raising, small manufacturing, and government servicese It is one of the few countries in Latin America having a thoroughly civilian government0 As a tiny buffer between two large military states, Uruguay has no conscrip­ tion, no armaments industry, and therefore, no military secrets. The people have little respect for their army, navy, and air force02 IT As"*of 1963 census o 20 George Pendle,