White, Robert (diplomat)

Born in the working district of Greater Boston . Came from a family of Irish descent, received a religious Catholic education. Subsequently, he checked his social positions with the Roman Catholic Church , focused on the decisions of the Second Vatican Council ^[1] .

In 1944 - 1945, Robert White participated in the Second World War . He served as a radio operator in the Navy in the Pacific . Demobilized, he graduated from St. Michael’s Private Catholic College in Colchester . Under the Fulbright program, he studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University ^[2] .

In 1955, Robert White joined the US Department of State for diplomatic service. He served in the US offices in Hong Kong and Ottawa , then was transferred to the Latin American direction. He was an employee of the embassies in Colombia , Ecuador , Honduras , Nicaragua . From 1968 to 1970 - Deputy Regional Director of the Peace Corps for Latin America. In 1975 - 1977 - Deputy US Representative to the Organization of American States .

Robert White adhered to the liberal doctrine based on the priority of human rights . He opposed the support of right-wing dictatorial regimes, for the spread of democratic models. Being a staunch anti-communist , White considered the main political criterion is not this, but the observance of civil liberties and democratic norms. He was a supporter of social reforms in Latin America, especially agrarian. He sympathized with the ideas of the social reformist Third Way , social Christianity and liberation theology . He actively supported the John Kennedy Administration program for the sake of progress ^[1] .

Robert White’s liberal rights advocacy position was discontent with the Richard Nixon administration , especially with Henry Kissinger . At the insistence of Kissinger, White was removed from his post in the Peace Corps ^[2] .

Robert White supported the election of Jimmy Carter as president of the United States . The main principle of the foreign policy of the Democratic Administration of Carter was declared the full protection of human rights.

In Paraguay

In October 1977, Robert White was appointed US Ambassador to Paraguay . The Stronist regime of Alfredo Stroessner belonged to the right-authoritarian anti-communist dictatorships. Robert White sharply criticized Stressner’s repressive policies, and was indignant at staying in Paraguay on Joseph Mengele . As an ambassador, Robert White prevented the killing of several left-wing oppositionists and the ban on workers' organizations ^[1] .

From the Paraguayan General Alejandro Fretes Davalos, Robert White learned about the existence of a kind of “dispatch center” in Operation Zone “Condor” in the Panama Canal Zone . After that, he sent Secretary of State Cyrus Vance a memorandum in which he questioned the advisability of continuing this practice - at least in terms of the danger of its publicity in the light of the killing of Orlando Letelier ^[3] .

White’s position was endorsed by Secretary of State Vance, but categorically rejected by right-wing conservative Republicans . The toughest critic of White was Senator Jesse Helms - an influential member of the Senate Committee on International Affairs, a supporter of a consistently anti-communist course. For the same reasons, Zbigniew Brzezinski , Assistant to President Carter for National Security ^[1], did not accept White’s line.

In El Salvador

In the fall of 1979, Robert White was appointed US ambassador to El Salvador . Because of the stubborn resistance of Jesse Helms, the Senate Committee approved White’s candidacy only in February 1980 .

Robert White’s ambassadorial service came in the early years of the civil war in El Salvador . White harshly criticized the government of the Salvadoran junta for human rights positions. The US ambassador denied a military solution to the Salvadoran conflict, advocated negotiations with the Left insurgents, social and democratic transformation in the country ^[4] . Jose Napoleon Duarte, he qualified as a paid agent of the CIA . At the same time, White acknowledged that Duarte was reform-oriented and was trying to stop the atrocities of government forces ^[5] .

Robert White was an implacable opponent of the ultra-right death squads . He maintained friendly relations with the Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero - the main moral and political authority of the opposition - and met with him the day before his death . The leader of the Salvadoran ultra-right Roberto d'Aubusson, Robert White, called the “pathological killer” ^[6] (this statement was repeatedly quoted in the USSR ).

For their part, the Salvadoran military and ultra-right militants treated Robert White with undisguised hostility. After the arrest of Major d'Aubusson and a group of his comrades on May 7, 1980 (they were accused of killing Archbishop Romero and plotting to seize power), activists of the right-wing FAN organization organized a group picket under the slogan "White go home" ^[7] . The wife of Major Yolanda d'Aubusson blocked the entrance to the house with her car.

Subsequently, Marianna White, the wife of Robert White, recalled how at official receptions at the embassy Salvadoran officers (as well as American businessmen cooperating with Salvadoran authorities) expressed aloud the desire to shoot her husband ^[1] . Negative attitude towards the American ambassador and the residency of the CIA.

On December 2, 1980, in San Salvador, American Catholic missionaries were captured and killed (presumably by National Guard soldiers), one of whom was personally acquainted with White and enjoyed his moral and political support. White demanded a thorough investigation and the cessation of US military aid to El Salvador. He made a public promise that "this time the scum will not turn away" ^[4] .

On January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan joined the presidency of the United States. State Secretary was Alexander Heig . The new republican administration acted from the standpoint of tough anti-communism and anti-Sovietism . Support for anti-communist regimes was placed above the doctrine of human rights. The Salvadoran military-political conflict was viewed as an important part of the global Cold War .

In the new political scenario, the resignation of Robert White has become inevitable. As early as February 1, 1981, he was recalled from his post as ambassador to El Salvador. White was replaced by Dean Hinton , unequivocally focused on supporting the Salvadoran junta and relatively loyal even to Major d'Aubusson.

The work of Robert White was reflected in the cinema: in the Oliver Stone film Salvador ^[8], he was bred as a character under the name Tom Kelly.

After leaving the diplomatic service, Robert White worked at the Carnegie Foundation , then at the Center for International Politics and the International Center for Political Development . He was a professor of international relations at Boston Simmons College .

Robert White continued to advocate for liberal democracy , for the priority of human rights in international politics. Particular attention is paid to the situation in Latin America. He participated in the mission of election observers in Haiti in 1987 . He continued to insist on an investigation into the 1980 killings in El Salvador. In this context, White criticized US policy, which "in the name of anti-communism supported the military, who suppressed democracy, freedom of speech and human rights." He played for the reform of the US intelligence services .

Robert White died at the age of 88. ^[2] The obituaries noted his adherence to the fundamental values ​​of democracy and human rights, his firmness in upholding these ideals, even to the detriment of his own interests ^[4] .

Robert White was married, had two daughters and three grandchildren. He met his wife Marianne White (Cahill) in 1955 - she was the headmaster of the girls' scout school ^[1] .