Smashing the Legend

The U.S. took a step last week that may well smash a Latin American legend, assiduously nourished by the Communists, that U.S. policy in Central America is aimed exclusively at higher dividends for Boston's $579 million United Fruit Co., biggest business in the Caribbean. Under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the Department of Justice charged the company with operating a monopoly. In a civil suit it demanded that United Fruit 1) break up its present structure, and 2) give competitors a chance in the banana business.

Federal court dockets are crowded; that fact plus possible delaying actions by United Fruit lawyers could postpone trial for a year or two. In the interim, the fruit company might see the light--or feel the heat--and agree to mend its ways.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.