tioo VENEZUELA 



measures which were introduced in rapid succession were a Labour bill (July), opposed 

 by all foreign interests and especially by the British railway companies; an Insurance 

 Monopoly bill (July), forbidding within the territory of the republic the carrying-on of 

 life, fire and accident insurance operations otherwise than by the State; a bill (August) 

 for the establishment of a state meat-factory, intended to promote open competition 

 with established foreign interests; a bill (August) for the establishment of a state 

 mercantile marine; and a scheme for the construction of a number of economic State 

 railways, also intended to promote competition with the existing lines built with British 

 capital. A state monopoly in the manufacture of matches was announced in August 

 1912. The threatened Insurance Monopoly drew forth a protest from the British 

 minister at Montevideo, Mr. R. J. Kennedy, after the matter had been raised in the 

 House of Commons (Aug. i/th) by Mr. Annan Bryce, M.P. for Inverness Burghs. 



Towards the end of May 1911 serious industrial strikes occurred, which affected 

 the whole of the labour in Montevideo. So far from attempting to control the situation, 

 the government ostentatiously stood aside; during three days thousands of willing work- 

 people were unable to follow their occupations. For this period, by decree of the Labour 

 federation, the industrial business and commercial activities of Montevideo were par- 

 alysed, the supplies of daily food were interrupted, theatres remained closed, marriages 

 were postponed, and it was difficult even to bury the dead with the customary cere- 

 monies. For eleven days following, public order remained disturbed. The president 

 openly encouraged the strikes, and declined to extend either police or military protec- 

 tion. Further hostility was shown to foreign enterprise by the cancellation of an impor- 

 tant contract, entered into in the month of May 1910, between the government of 

 Uruguay and the city of Montevideo Public Works Corporation, a British company, 

 although the Chamber of Deputies had formally approved of the contract in October 

 1910 and the executive had signed it. 



In September a legation was created at Havana (Cuba), Senor don Rafael J. Fossalba 

 being appointed first envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, while Senores 

 Don Juan Zorilla de San Martin and Don Jose Pedro Massera were appointed to repre- 

 sent the republic on the Permanent Arbitration Court at the Hague. 



In August 1912 Dr. Juilo Herrera y Obes, a former president, passed away. A 

 painful impression was occasioned by President Battle y Ordonez refusing permission 

 for the deceased to receive burial in the National Pantheon. The Chamber insisted, 

 however, upon this honour being rendered, and the president was compelled to give way. 



The financial conditions of the republic show that the national expenditure has been 

 fast overtaking the revenue. The latter was placed (1912-13) at $28,535,000 (5,707,- 

 ooo) while the former was estimated at $35,132,171 (7,026,434). A later estimate 

 raised the revenue to $35,142,380, thus showing " a balance of $10,000." but in local 

 financial circles the realization of this estimate was not anticipated. 



VENEZUELA l 



Venezuela has an area of 393,976 square miles, and the population according to the 

 most recent estimate is 2,713,703, giving an average of 6.9 inhabitants per square mile. 

 Imports were valued in 1910-1 1 at 3,678,979 and exports 4,536,876; imports from Great 

 Britain being valued at 1,050,772 and exports to Great Britain 253,275 (these figures 

 exclude Trinidad, British Guiana and British West Indies). The revenue and expendi- 

 ture were estimated in the budget of 1912-13 to balance at 52,500,800 bolivars (i bolivar 

 = 9^d.). The total public debt amounts to 7,686,581 (4,361,420 external and 3,325,- 

 161 internal). The total mileage of railways is 542, and of telegraph lines 4899. The 

 army has a strength of 9600, and the navy comprises 6 vessels with a personnel of 400. 



After the sentence of exile pronounced upon ex-President Cipriano Castro, which 

 was determined upon immediately after his departure from Venezuela, December 1908, 

 the conditions of the country began to improve. Commercial prosperity was not only 

 resumed and subsequently maintained, but more harmonious associations with other 



1 See E. B. xxiii, 988 el seq. 



