Backyard Empire: The U.S. in Latin America · Episode 9 of 14 · 43 min
The British Company That Owned an Argentine Forest — and Massacred Its Workers
For half a century one British company, La Forestal, owned an Argentine quebracho forest along with its towns, railways, police, and the scrip workers were paid in, supplying the world's leather tannin. After the 1919 to 1921 strikes its police and a paramilitary league killed hundreds of workers and families. The company left in 1963, with about 90 percent of the forest cut.
Who's who
- Enrique MoscaSanta Fe governor tied to security forces used against strikers
Where it happens
- Gran Chaco, ArgentinaQuebracho forest region controlled by La Forestal
- Santa Fe Province, ArgentinaProvince that sold the forest land and saw the 1921 killings
Timeline
- 1880Province pays a London debt with public land; about two million hectares of forest pass to British owners
- 1906La Forestal formed and begins large-scale tannin production
- 1919Strike wave; company expands its private police
- January 1921Company police and Patriotic League kill striking workers and families
- 1963La Forestal closes and leaves, abandoning its towns
Still debated
The 1921 death toll, commonly put at 500 to 600, was never fully counted. Responsibility is also argued, since the company's police acted alongside provincial authorities and a paramilitary league.