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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 13, No. 22. September 21, 1950

Protectors?

Protectors?

Sir,—These remarks of Major General Smedley D. Butler, are interesting today. They are quoted in "Man's Worldly Goods" by Leo Huberman.

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active service as a member of our country's (U.S.) most agile military force, the Marine corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from a second lieutenant to a Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high class muscle man for big business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism.

Thus I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped to purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-12. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested. I feel that I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. We Marines operated in three continents."

Today "United Nations" troops protect U.S. investments in Korea: The Consolidated Mining Coy., New Korea Co., and tungsten ore deposits at Sangdong. The U.S.M.C. of course still protects America's other Asian investments.

—W.M.