I090 NICARAGUA 



The political troubles of the republic were reflected in the unsettlement of mining, 

 agricultural and other industrial operations; a textile workers' strike occurred at Puebla 

 on August 5, 1912, and 9,000 operatives came out; railway communications were cut in 

 many places, and even in the towns life and property were not considered safe from mob 

 violence. The British-owned mines at Tominil were again attacked and dynamited, 

 the staff being compelled to seek safety in flight. Both Great Britain and the United 

 States vigorously protested to the Mexican government, without result. 



The budget of the fiscal year 1912-13 provided for an increase of $2,870,000 (574,- 

 ooo) for the current year, the total amounting to $55,000,000 (11,000,000). Customs 

 and harbour dues showed a decrease of $5,000,000 as compared with the previous year, 

 and of $2,000,000 on the estimates. 



The principal feature in the foreign trade (1911-12) was the continued increase in 

 Germany's share of the imports, which showed an advance of 26.12 per cent as compared 

 with 7.76 per cent for Great Britain. Belgium however showed an even larger increase, 

 73.70 per cent. In the 1910-11 exports the United Kingdom had already taken second 

 place to the United States, while Canada held seventh place in imports. 



On February 29, 1912, a presidential decree was published concerning the distribution 

 of government lands, amounting to approximately 10,000,000 hectares situated in the 

 states of Guerrero, Coahuila, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, 

 Tabasco, Vera Cruz, Yucatan, and the territories of Tepic and Lower California. 



On October 7th the Chamber of Deputies voted by 115 to 29 to double the salaries 

 of members, formerly $8.50 ( = 173. per diem) to $17.00 ( = 345.). 



Numerous concessions to foreigners were granted for further railway construction, 

 electric power stations, water plants and factory installations; while irrigation schemes 

 upon an excessive scale were commenced. The establishment of an institution known 

 as the Land Bank, for irrigation works, was introduced under government auspices. 



In June 1912 Mexico City was severely shaken by earthquake, 63 persons being 

 killed and 75 injured, while the damage done to property exceeded $150.000. On July 

 1 9th disastrous floods which visited the Northern section of the country, affecting an 

 area of 20,000 square miles, damaged property to the extent of several millions of dollars, 

 and caused many lives to be lost. On July 30, 1912 a severe earthquake visited the 

 Guadalajara district (state of Jalisco), rendering 10,000 people homeless. 



In the last days of October 1912 the seaport of Acapulco, on the south coast, was 

 almost destroyed by a hurricane. 



NICARAGUA l 



Nicaragua has an area of 49,200 square miles, and the population according to the 

 most recent estimate is about 600,000, giving an average of 12.2 inhabitants per square 

 mile. The total public debt amounts to 2,297,736 (1,276,273 external and 1,021,463 

 internal). The mileage of railways is 170 and of telegraph lines 3614. The army has 

 a strength of 4000. The navy comprises 10 vessels with a personnel of 170. 



Notwithstanding the programme of peaceful policy laid down by President Jose 

 Madriz (inaugurated Dec. 21, 1909), and his general popularity among the people, the 

 Conservative party, led by Generals Emiliano Chamorro and Mena, continued to resist 

 the new government in conjunction with General Juan J. Estrada, governor of Blue, 

 fields. One of the first acts undertaken by President Madriz was to order a court of 

 enquiry into the execution of two Americans named Groce and Cannon " with a view 

 to punishing those responsible," although it was known that the order to kill the men 

 had been given by the ex-president Jose Zelaya. Both Groce and Cannon were American 

 mercenaries, fighting against the constituted authority in Nicaragua. The new Presi- 

 dent's position was rendered doubly difficult by the fact that the United States Govern- 

 ment had persistently refused to recognise either him or his government. On the other 

 hand, President Taft acknowledged the revolutionary leader General Juan J. Estrada as 

 the Executive, although the United States Congress (Jan. 14, 1910) had declined to 



1 See E. B. xx, 624 cl scq. 



