ARGENTINA 1069 



In 1912 the estimated number of cattle in the Republic was: 29,400,000 horned beasts; 

 7,615,000 horses; 67,394,000 sheep. Concurrently with the outbreak in Great Britain 

 of foot and mouth disease, it appeared in a milder form in Argentina. The ports 

 were closed to cattle from Great Britain from July 6th. 



The financial resources of the State were proved by Dr. Rosa, Minister of Finance, 

 to be heavily embarrassed, there being a net deficiency of $70,000,000; a sum of $400,000,- 

 ooo was due upon public works under construction, and $70,000,000 upon armaments. 

 It was shown that the Agricultural Department absorbed 9 per cent and that official 

 salaries required 40 per cent of the country's total resources; the service of the National 

 Debt called for 25 per cent, thus leaving 26 per cent to meet all other liabilities. In 

 July the Government issued, in Paris, a 4^ per cent loan for 14,000,000 ($70,000,000 

 gold), which was offered at 99^ per cent. The public financial responsibilities of 

 Argentina amounted to 104,513,655, in addition to 90,000,000 of unpaid debts, made 

 up of cedulas and currency debt guaranteed by the National Government and loans 

 issued by the Provincial Government and the Municipality of Buenos Aires. The 

 Currency debt carries no interest, but interest has to be found upon 150,000,000 (out 

 of the total of 194,515,655). Dr. Rosa resigned his portfolio on August 3rd, and was 

 succeeded in office by Senor Enrique Perez. 



Two Argentine-Bolivian Sub-Commissions started on June 28 and July 3, 1912, 

 escorted by troops drawn from both Republics, to map out the demarcation lines of the 

 frontiers. During the investigations a Bolivian fort (Valibran) was discovered on 

 Argentine territory, no doubt accidentally erected there, the River Pilcomayo, near 

 which the fort was built, frequently changing its bed. Friendly negotiations ensued 

 for the removal of the fort to the Bolivian border. In July, General Roca, formerly 

 President of Argentina, went to Brazil as Special Envoy, and was accorded a brilliant- 

 reception. He retired in September 1912, and was succeeded by Dr. Lucas Ayarragaray, 

 as Minister. The return to Rio of Dr. Campo Salles, Brazilian Minister at Buenos Aires, 

 took place in July. In this month also Dr. Jose Figueroa Alcorta, President 1906-10, 

 was offered the post of Special Ambassador to Spain; while the Argentine Minister to 

 London was raised to the dignity of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. 

 On August 5, 1912, was signed the protocol of a treaty of reciprocity between Argentina 

 and Uruguay, relative to coasting and river navigation commerce. 



For the first time during the past decade, the position of the country's trade (in 1911) 

 showed in an unfavourable light, the trade balance against the Republic amounting to 

 $42,1 13,148, while in 1910 the balance had been in its favour to the amount of $20,855,399. 

 For the first 6 months of 1912 (to June 3oth) the balance once more showed in favour of 

 the Republic. Serious strikes occurred upon the railways and in the docks, and endured 

 for some months, while bad crop weather, up to August, was experienced. 



The cost of living in the capital again increased, and showed an advance of fully 

 100 per cent above that prevailing 20 years ago. (The population of Buenos Aires on 

 October 31, 1912, was 1,405,061). Meanwhile dividends and salaries remained un- 

 changed. Railway expenditure has advanced very rapidly, but revenue has shown 

 very little inclination to meet it, rates displaying a tendency to fall. Yellow fever proved 

 troublesome, and a plague of mosquitoes visited the greater part of the country. The 

 Government passed a special vote to fight the danger threatened. 



On June 3oth the Government submitted to Congress a law imposing the principle 

 of taxation on land values, the project following closely along the lines of the English 

 Finance Act 1909-10. In July four new destroyers, built by Messrs. Cammell Laird 

 & Co., of Birkenhead, " Santiago," " San Luis," " Santa Fe " and " Tucuman," which 

 were intended to be added to the Argentine Navy, were completed. The order, how- 

 ever, was subsequently rescinded, and in October these vessels were sold to the Greek 

 Government. In spite of the opposition offered by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and 

 Finance, the Senate had adopted, by 15 votes to 14, a minute asking for the construction 

 of a third " Dreadnought " (Sept. i7th). 



General Jose Inocencio Arias, Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, and one 



