burden. The United States has robbed us of our dignity and spat upon our sovereignty. Every attempt has been made to socialize our people into believing that our only role in the hemispheric division of labour is to be the hewers of wood and the drawers of water. Our people have been made to believe that we are fated, to be poor, 7 miserable and wretched, and that we exist merely to replenish the coffers of United States transnationals. 73. Exactly 30 years ago, in March 1953, the legitimate Government of Jacob0 Arbenz in Guatemala national- ized 230,009 acres .of land beionging to the United Fruit Company of the United States. The United States Department of State, headed by John Foster Dulles, intervened on behalf of the Company, backing its claims for $16 million in compensation. Arbenz refused to pay these excessive sums, since it was not consistent with tax returns which the Company had submitted to the Gua- temalan Treasury. The CIA sent in a trained army of Guatemalan exiles, Arbenz was overthrown, and the new President promptly gave back the land to the United Fruit Company. 74. The history of our region is a catalogue of such stories that reek of imperialist arrogance and insensitiv- ity. Major General Smedley D. Butler has left us a per- spicuous account of his stewardship in the region. He boasted: “I spent thirty-three years and four months in active service as a member of our country’s agile military force-the Marine Corps.. . . 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.. . safe for American bil interests 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a critique of the economic and political policies of the United States towards Central American countries, particularly Guatemala. It highlights the exploitation of natural resources, labor, and the manipulation of governments to serve the interests of US corporations. The text also mentions the nationalization of land and the CIA's involvement in overthrowing a democratically elected government.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade