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STRIKE MASSACRE An army regiment from Bogota was brought in by the US corporation United Fruit to settle the strike. NUMBER DEAD Cortes Vargas, the commander of the massacre, took responsibility for 47 casualties. But the exact number of casualties will probably never be known. Herrera Soto, co-author of the most comprehensive and detailed study of the 1928 strike, has put together the various estimates given by contemporaries and historians, ranging from 47 to 2,000. JUSTIFICATIONS General Cortés Vargas , who issued the order to shoot, argued later that he had issued the order because he had information that American boats were posied to land troops on Colombian coasts to defend American personnel and the interests of the United Fruit Company. Vargas issued the order so the US would not invade Colombia. This position was strongly criticized in the Senate, especially by Jorge Eliécer Gaitán , who argued that those same bullets should have been used to stop the foreign invader. {Link without Title} US EMBASSY TELEGRAMS The Telegram from Bogotá Embassy to Secretary of State, December 5, 1928 stated: I have been following Santa Marta fruit strike through United Fruit Company representative here; also through Minister of Foreign Affairs who on Saturday told me government would send additional troops and would arrest all strike leaders and transport them to prison at Cartagena; that government would give adequate protection to American interests involved. {Link without Title} The telegram from Bogotá Embassy to Secretary of State, December 7, 1928 stated: Situation outside Santa Marta City unquestionably very serious: outside zone is in revolt; military who have orders "not to spare ammunition" have already killed and wounded about fifty strikers. The Dispatch from US Bogotá Embassy to the US Secretary of State, December 29, 1928 stated: I have the honor to report that the legal advisor of the United Fruit Company here in Bogotá stated yesterday that the total number of strikers killed by the Colombian military authorities during the recent disturbance reached between five and six hundred; while the number of soldiers killed was one. {Link without Title} The Dispatch from US Bogotá Embassy to the US Secretary of State, January 16, 1929 stated: I have the honor to report that the Bogotá representative of the United Fruit Company told me yesterday that the total number of strikers killed by the Colombian military exceeded one thousand. {Link without Title} NOTES FURTHER READING EXTERNAL LINKS
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