I0 84 GUATEMALA 



dangerous and involved. The retiring president, having at first supported the candida- 

 ture of Senor Emilio Estrada as his successor, repented of his choice, and joined with 

 others in plotting for the election of Senor Emilio Maria Teran. On July 3, 1911, 

 Senor Teran was assassinated, his murderer, Colonel Quirola, being in his turn killed 

 by the angry mob and his body beheaded and burnt. Senor Emilio Estrada then 

 came to Quito and took office on August 3ist. After serving about four months Senor 

 Emilio Estrada died on December 22, 1911, and immediately afterwards a struggle 

 took place for the vacant Presidency. The two candidates were General Pedro Montero 

 and General Leonidas Plaza. The former was proclaimed President by the troops 

 stationed at Guayaquil; but a month later he was shot by the populace. General Leon- 

 idas Plaza was then offered the provisional Presidency. He however refused, and Senor 

 Carlos Freil Zaldumbido, president of senate at the last Congress, temporarily assumed 

 office. General Plaza continued, however, to be regarded as the popular candidate, 

 and on March 31, 1912, he was duly elected. He had previously served as president from 

 1900 to 1904, and as minister to the United States in 1905. General Plaza's position, 

 however, was rendered exceedingly difficult; the whole country was in a state of seething 

 anarchy. In July 1912 a plot was formed to assassinate the President, a Colombian 

 named Carlos Arce and a native named Thomas being implicated, but the conspiracy 

 failed. In September General Plaza took office as Chief Executive. 



The finances of the country have begun, notwithstanding its unsettled condition, to 

 show some slight improvement, the revenue having risen from 1,100,000 in 1905 to 

 1,800,000 at the end of 1911. The improvement to a great extent is due to the com- 

 pletion of the Guayaquil-Quito railway (in 1908), and, although Ecuador has had to 

 pay rather heavily for its guarantee of interest upon these bonds, there has been a 

 corresponding advantage in increased trade and revenues. Beyond its Railway and 

 Salt bonds' indebtedness (amounting to 3,104,800), the country has only small respon- 

 sibilities, which may be put at 700,000 in all. There is no paper currency; a.gold basis 

 was established some years back. 



The Peruvian and Bolivian Mixed Mission has commenced its duties in regard to 

 the demarcation of the frontiers in accordance with the terms of the previously signed 

 Treaty. The arrangements provided that should any doubt arise on any question, 

 it should be submitted to the Royal Geographical Society of London. 



The republic celebrated the io3d anniversary of its independence on August 10, 1912. 

 Considerable difficulty was again experienced that year in obtaining from the govern- 

 ment the money to pay the coupon due on the Guayaquil-Quito Railway Bonds. 

 Later it was received in instalments at irregular dates. 



The balance of trade for 1912 was in favour of Ecuador, the exports amounting o 

 3,427,100 as against imports of 1,647,660. The official valuation of the imports, 

 however, is not to be relied upon, as the figures are frequently understated and do not 

 include freight, etc., from Europe, whereas the export totals are calculated at the average 

 cost f .o.b. throughout the year, including all export duties and local charges. 



GUATEMALA 1 



Guatemala has an area of 48,290 square miles, and the population (of whom 60 per 

 cent are Indians) according to the most recent estimates is 1,992,000, giving an average 

 of 41.2 inhabitants per square mile. Imports were valued in 1910-11 at 1,304,884 and 

 exports at 2,196,345, imports from Great Britain being valued at 262,840 and exports 

 to Great Britain at 264,950. The revenue was estimated in the budget of 1912-13 

 at 2,481,899 and the expenditure at 2,766,278. The total public debt amounts to 

 3,481,800 (2,481,899 external and 1,000,000 internal). The total mileage of railways 

 is 424 and that of telegraph lines 3974. The army has a strength of 70,250 men. 



At the end of his second presidential term, Sefior Manuel Estrada Cabrera was re- 

 elected for a period of six years from March 15, 1911. Following the assassination 

 (July 1907) in the streets of Mexico City of ex-President General Manuel Barillas, who 



1 See E. B. xii, 66 1 et seq. 



