port of Antwerp, which has become the greatest port of Continental Europe. The western part is low, level and fertile; the eastern, the tableland of the Ardennes, has a poor soil. The cities of Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp are noted for art and architecture. Belgium formed part of the Low Countries from the readjustment of Europe in 1815 after Napoleon's downfall, until 'when it proclaimed its independence (Oct. 14, 1830.) The National Congress (1831) elected Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg King of the Belgians. He died (1865) and was succeeded by By the his son Leopold II, who died (1909.) Treaty of London, (April 19, 1839) the famous "scrap of paper," separation from the Nethelands and the neutrality and inviolability of Belgium were guaranteed by Austria, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Prussia and Russia. The Germans invaded the Kingdom (Aug. 2, 1914) and held nearly all of Belgium throughout the war, evacuating it immediately after the Armistice. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Eupen and Malmedy and Moresnet were ceded by Germany, adding 382 square miles and 64,250 inhabitants to the joined to the These cantons were kingdom. province of Liege (March 5, 1925.) Belgium was invaded by Germany (May 10,1940). King Leopold announced (May 27) that the Belgian Army had surrendered. In Paris, Premier Pierlot, at a meeting attended by the Presidents of both Chambers of Parliament, declared that the King's decision was illegal since it had to have the approbation of at least one member of the Cabinet. The Premier said this approbation was lacking because there was unanimous decision in the Cabinet not to associate itself with the action of King Leopold. Belgium was occupied by Germany which later announced the reincorporation into the Reich of Eupen, Malmedy and Moresnet, an area of 348 square miles with a population of 64,000. The Eupen-Malmedy-Moresnet districts were assigned to Belgium (March 6, 1925) by the League of Nations. A Belgian Government-in-Exile was established in Poitiers, France, with Premier Pierlot as the head and was recognized by Great Britain. The Government later moved to Vichy, France, but abandoned that place (Sept. 16) with the announcement that all further attempts to govern Belgium from the French provisional capital had been given up. The Cabinet later established the Government in London. The Belgian colonies retain their independence. Belgium is the most densely populated country in Europe with a population of 710 to the square The population is divided into two well mile. defined groups, the Flemish and the Walloons. The Roman Catholic is the religion of the great majority, but religious toleration prevails. Part of the income of the ministers of the Catholic, Jewish, Church of England and Protestant Evangelique religions is paid from the national treasury. Belgium has four universities in Ghent, Liege, Brussels and Louvain. The Army, under the Military Law of 1937, is recruited by annual calls and voluntary enlistments. Belgium has no Navy and the Air Force has been cooperating with the R. A. F. since the invasion by Germany. Louvain Library, destroyed during the World War (1914) when the German Army overran Belgium and later reconstructed with American funds, was destroyed a second time (May, 1940) in the It is estimated 700,000 new German invasion. BELGIAN The Congo Free State had its origin in the vision of King Leopold II of Belgium, who, roused by Stanley's discoveries, realized the great economic possibilities in the development of the vast terriThe International tory reached by the Congo. Association of the Congo, which he founded and volumes were lost in the last destruction. Louvain University was established (1426) and the library grew to rank with the best in the world. The principal crops are wheat, barley, oats, rye, potatoes, sugar beets, fodder beets and tobacco. The country produces a large quantity of coal but other minerals are of minor importance, The chief imports are wool, cotton, flax, hides, building wood, iron and steel, machinery, coal, chemical products, bitumen, zinc ore, wheat and wine. The principal exports are manufactures of wool, cotton, flax, leather and glassware, iron, The coal, steel and zine products and sugar. iron and quarry industries are very valuable, as are the glass, textile and sugar, and the lace of Brussels, Malines and Bruges is famous. The King of the Belgians, Leopold III, (born Nov. 3, 1901) succeeded his father, Albert, killed les Dames (Feb. 17, 1934) and was crowned (Feb. by a fall from a precipice of rocks at the Marche 23, 1934.) He married (Nov. 10, 1926) Princess Astrid (born Nov. 17, 1905), daughter of Prince Carl, brother of the King of Sweden. Children of King Leopold are Princess Josephine Charlotte (born Oct. 11, 1927); Prince Baudouin (the Heir Apparent) (born Sept. 7, 1930) and Albert, Prince of Liege (born June 6, 1934). Queen Astrid was when the automobile which her husband was drivkilled (Aug. 29, 1935) near Lucerne, Switzerland, ing plunged from the road. The Queen Dowager is late King Albert, (Oct. 2, 1900) their other chilElizabeth, Duchess of Bavaria, who married the dren are Prince Charles Theodore, Count of Flanders, (born Oct. 10, 1903) and Princess Marie Jose (born Aug. 4, 1906) married (Jan. 8, 1930) to Crown Prince Humbert, of Italy. Parliament consists of a Senate of 167 members, elected for terms of four years, 101 by direct vote, Universal 44 by Provincial Councils and 22 by the Senate also elected for terms of four years. itself; a House of Representatives of 202 members, male suffrage is in force. The following women may vote in Parliamentary elections: widows, not remarried, of soldiers killed in the World War: widows of Belgian citizens killed by the enemy in latter are widows; widowed mothers of bachelor the War, or failing them, their mothers if the or detained for political reasons during the enemy soldiers killed in the War; women sent to prison The party strength of the Parliament (elected occupation of Belgium during the war. Party April 2, 1939) follows: Catholics Liberals Socialists Flemish Nationalists Chamber Senate 73 62 64 61 33 25 17 12 9 4 The Prime Minister is Hubert Pierlot (Catholic). The problem of smoothing the linguistic diffculties of Belgium was settled (1932) when the government divided the country into three sections for administrative purposes: In the first, Walloonia, only French is used officially; in Flanders, Flemish; the Brussels district remains bilingual. The law does not apply to Eupen and Malmedy, German-speaking annexed districts. The unit of currency is the franc but the use of the belga (nominal value $.1685) is compulsory in foreign exchange transactions. One belga is equal to five paper francs, which is the medium of exchange in domestic business. The budget (1940) estimated revenue at 11,343.032 francs; expenditures 11,632,979,000. CONGO Belgian Congo has a short coast line on the South Atlantic at the mouth of the Congo, where is situated the village of Banana on a fine natural harbor. Equatorial French Africa lies to the north and west and Angola (Portuguese) to the south, beyond which to the east is Northern Rhodesia: to the east Tanganyika, now British, but formerly German East Africa, and Uganda (British); to the north it also touches the Soudan. Vast, sunless and well-nigh impenetrable tropical forests fill the upper reaches of the river, covering about The principal products of 25,000 square miles. the Congo are palm-oil, cotton, palm-nuts, coffee, cocoa, rubber, copal gum, sugar and ivory. Mineral products consist of copper, diamonds, gold, tin, cobalt, silver and radium. The Belgian Congo ranks high among copper producing countries. The diamond fields (in the southwestern district) produce over four million carats a year; rank next after the South African diamond fields. The uranium ore from the Katanga District is of high grade, and the refinery at Oolen, Belgium, produces about 90 per cent of the world supply of radium. The chief industry is copper mining in Katanga where the copper bearing belt is 250 miles long by 25 to 50 miles wide. Tin, (discovered 1910), has been exploited since 1918. In the Katanga district is a large deposit of pitch-blende ore, from which the factory of Oolen, Belgium, produces about five grams of finished radium a month. Other important minerals are diamonds, gold, silver, cobalt, uranium and iron. Matadi is the most important port on the Congo, which is navigable for large vessels for 95 miles to Matadi. A railroad 249 miles long transships freight around the series of falls and rapids to Leopoldville on Stanley Pool. From here the river and its branches are navigable for about 3,750 miles. Railroads have been built around the falls on the upper river, and to connect important points. Belgian Congo's normal trade is chiefly with Belgium, although commerce with Germany, Japan and the United States is large. The Congo imports more goods from Japan than from any other country with the exception of Belgium. The monetary unit is the franc. Government revenue (1940) was estimated at 747,208,000 francs: expenditures at 779,821,500. Ruanda and Urandi, districts formerly in German East Africa, have been ceded to Belgium as mandatory of the League of Nations. The total area is 20,535 square miles. The population is estimated (1940) at 3,775,335, of whom 1,404 are Europeans, chiefly Belgians. Both districts are united administratively with Belgian Congo, under a vicegovernor at Astrida. The Ruanda Plateau is one of Africa's best cattle countries. Several peaks of the Birunga range reach an altitude of 14,000 ft. Bhutan Capital, Punakha-Area, 18,000 square miles-Population (est.) 300,000 The Kingdom of Bhutan is a semi-independent native state in the Himalayas between Thibet on the north and British India on the south, with Sikkam on the west. It is 190 miles long from east to west and 90 miles wide at its widest point. Punakha is a fortress of great natural strength. The inhabitants of Bhutan are Mongolians and adhere to a form of Buddhism. There is a monastery-Tashi-Cho-dzong-containing 300 priests. Agriculture is the chief industry. The principal products are rice, Indian corn, millet, lac, wax, various kinds of cloth, musk, elephants, ponies and chowries. The ruler of the kingdom is Maharajah Jig-me Wang-chuk (born 1906). He ascended the throne (Aug. 21, 1926). Since 1910 he has received a subsidy of 1,000,000 rupees from the British government. Bolivia (REPUBLICA BOLIVIANA) Capital, La Paz-Area, 537,792 square miles-Population (estimated 1938), 3,426,296 Bolivia is bounded by Peru and Chile on the west, Brazil on the north and east, Paraguay on the east and Argentina on the south. It lies across the Andes, and its chief topographical feature is the great central plateau at an altitude of 12,000 ft., over 500 miles long, lying between two great cordilleras having three of the highest peaks in America. More than 50% of the population are Indians speaking their own dialects only, and 25% are of mixed blood. The percentage of illiteracy is high. Farming, grazing and mining are the chief Occupations. can read and write have the vote. Congress is composed of a Senate of 27 members elected for six years and a House of Deputies of 70, elected for four years. Agricultural products include potatoes, cacao, coffee, barley, coca, highland rice and rubber. It ranks as the second rubber exporting country of South America. The most important industry is mining. There are large deposits of tin, silver, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, bismuth, wolfram, gold and borate of lime. More than 15% of the world's output of tin is produced in Bolivia with an American corporation in control. The country ranks second to China in the mining of antimony. The petroleum industry is growing. Under Spanish rule (1540 to 1750) the mines produced gold to the value of $2,000,000,000. The annual production is now less than $500,000. La Paz, the capital, a city of great charm, lies in the heart of a gigantic canyon about three miles wide, ten miles long and 1,500 ft. deep, at an altitude of about 12,700 ft., and framed with high Andean peaks. Its huge cathedral where 12,000 people can worship (begun in 1835), was dedicated (March 4, 1933). In Lake Titicaca, about 125 miles long and 75 miles wide, are the islands of the Sun and the Moon famous in Inca legends. Primary education is free and compulsory. The University of Sucre was founded (1624). Roman Catholic is the recognized State religion but other forms of worship are permitted. Spanish is the language of the country. By the constitution (1880) the President is elected for four years by direct popular vote. He is not eligible for re-election until four years after his term has ended. All men over twenty-one who The century-old dispute with Paraguay over the Gran Chaco, the interior plain between the two countries north of the Pilcomayo River and west of the Paraguay, which flared up anew (1938) was bitterly fought out defying all settlement until 1935 when, under the good offices of a conference composed of representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and the United States an armistice was signed (June 12). A treaty of peace and friendship, terminating the Chaco dispute, was signed (July 21). Under its terms, settlement of the Chaco boundary question was referred to the Arbitral College composed of representatives of the six mediating American nations. The boundary line was fixed by arbitration (Oct. 10). Constitutional government was suppressed (1939) by President German Busch, who established a totalitarian state. His successor re-established Constitutional government. Gen. Enrique Penaranda was elected president (March 10, 1940). There is compulsory military service from 19 years to 50. There is also "pre-military" instruction for boys 12 to 19 and girls 15 to 20. The active army is limited to approximately 3,500 but with reserves the total fighting strength approaches 10,000 effectives. The Government expropriated (May 15, 1941) as a public necessity the Lloyd Aereo Boliviano. German air line operating in Bolivia. The line had an exclusive franchise for air service within Bolivia. The unit of currency is the boliviano; see Index, FOREIGN MONETARY UNITS. The budget (1941) is estimated to balance at 556,000,000 bolivanos. Since Bolivia has no seaport, imports and exports travel through Arica, Mollendo, Antofagasta, and La Quiaca. The principal imports are sugar, flour, wheat, coal, petroleum, iron and steel products, mining machinery, rice, wines and spirits, textiles and ready-made clothes. Peace time trade is divided among the United States, Germany and Great Britain in the order named. Brazil (ESTADOS UNIDOS DO BRASIL) heavily wooded basin of the Amazon (1.465.637 square miles in Brazil) which rises in the Peruvian Andes and empties into the Atlantic at the Equator. Capital, Rio de Janeiro—Area, 3,275,510 miles-Population (Preliminary, 1940 Census), 41,356,605. Brazil is the largest state in South America,, Peru and Colombia. The northern part is the great exceeding the size of continental United States (exclusive of Alaska) by 250,000 square miles. It has a coast line on the Atlantic Ocean of 4,889 miles, and extends approximately 2,676 miles from north to south and 2,694 miles east to west. It is bounded on the north by Venezuela and Dutch, British, and French Guianas; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south by Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay; on the west by Bolivia, The Amazon basin has a network of rivers which are navigable for 15,814 miles. The Amazon river by itself is navigable for 1,700 miles, the extent of its course in Brazilian territory. In all its rivers. Brazil possesses 27,318 miles of navigable water 16 Foreign Countries-Belgium rt of Antwerp, which has become the greatest rt of Continental Europe. The western part is w, level and fertile; the eastern, the tableland the Ardennes, has a poor soil. The cities of ruges, Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp are noted r art and architecture. Belgium formed part of the Low Countries from me readjustment of Europe in 1815 after Napoleon's ownfall, until when it proclaimed its indepenence (Oct. 14, 1830.) The National Congress (1831) lected Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg King of the Belgians. He died (1865) and was succeeded by his son Leopold II, who died (1909.) By the Treaty of London, (April 19, 1839) the famous 'scrap of paper," separation from the Nethelands and the neutrality and inviolability of Belgium were guaranteed by Austria, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Prussia and Russia. The Germans invaded the Kingdom (Aug. 2, 1914) and held nearly all of Belgium throughout the war, evacuating it immediately after the Armistice. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Eupen and Malmedy and Moresnet were ceded by Germany, adding 382 square miles and 64,250 inhabitants to the These cantons were joined to the kingdom. province of Liege (March 5, 1925.) Belgium was invaded by Germany (May 10,1940). King Leopold announced (May 27) that the Belgian Army had surrendered. In Paris, Premier Pierlot, at a meeting attended by the Presidents of both Chambers of Parliament, declared that the King's decision was illegal since it had to have the approbation of at least one member of the Cabinet. The Premier said this approbation was lacking because there was unanimous decision in the Cabinet not to associate itself with the action of King Leopold. Belgium was occupied by Germany which later announced the reincorporation into the Reich of Eupen, Malmedy and Moresnet, an area of 348 square miles with a population of 64,000. The Eupen-Malmedy-Moresnet districts were assigned to Belgium (March 6, 1925) by the League of Nations. A Belgian Government-in-Exile was established in Poitiers, France, with Premier Pierlot as the head and was recognized by Great Britain. The Government later moved to Vichy, France, but abandoned that place (Sept. 16) with the announcement that all further attempts to govern Belgium from the French provisional capital had been given up. The Cabinet later established the The Belgian colonies Government in London. retain their independence. Belgium is the most densely populated country in Europe with a population of 710 to the square mile. The population is divided into two well defined groups, the Flemish and the Walloons. The Roman Catholic is the religion of the great majority, but religious toleration prevails. Part of the income of the ministers of the Catholic, Jewish, Church of England and Protestant Evangelique religions is paid from the national treasury. Belgium has four universities in Ghent, Liege, Brussels and Louvain. The Army, under the Military Law of 1937, is recruited by annual calls and voluntary enlistments. Belgium has no Navy and the Air Force has been cooperating with the R. A. F. since the invasion by Germany. Louvain Library, destroyed during the World War (1914) when the German Army overran Belgium and later reconstructed with American funds, was destroyed a second time (May, 1940) in the new German invasion. It is estimated 700,000 It has an area of 902,082 square miles, and an volumes were lost in the last destruction. Lou- The King of the Belgians, Leopold III, (born Parliament consists of a Senate of 167 members, elected for terms of four years, 101 by direct vote, 44 by Provincial Councils and 22 by the Senate itself; a House of Representatives of 202 members, also elected for terms of four years. Universal male suffrage is in force. The following women may vote in Parliamentary elections: widows, not remarried, of soldiers killed in the World War: widows of Belgian citizens killed by the enemy in the War, or failing them, their mothers if the latter are widows; widowed mothers of bachelor soldiers killed in the War; women sent to prison or detained for political reasons during the enemy occupation of Belgium during the war. The party strength of the Parliament (elected April 2, 1939) follows: The Prime Minister is Hubert Pierlot (Catholic). The problem of smoothing the linguistic dimculties of Belgium was settled (1932) when the government divided the country into three sections for administrative purposes: In the first, Walloonia, only French is used officially; in Flanders, Flemish; the Brussels district remains biMalmedy, German-speaking annexed districts. lingual. The law does not apply to Eupen and The unit of currency is the franc but the use of the belga (nominal value $.1685) is compulsory in foreign exchange transactions. One belga is equal to five paper francs, which is the medium of exchange in domestic business. The budget (1940) estimated revenue at 11,343,032 francs; expenditures 11,632,979,000. CONGO Belgian Congo has a short coast line on the is situated the village of Banana on a fine natural South Atlantic at the mouth of the Congo, where harbor. Equatorial French Africa lies to the north and west and Angola (Portuguese) to the south, beyond which to the east is Northern Rhodesia; to the east Tanganyika, now British, but formerly German East Africa, and Uganda (British); to the north it also touches the Soudan. Vast, sunless and well-nigh impenetrable tropical forests fill the upper reaches of the river, covering about 25,000 square miles. The principal products of the Congo are palm-oil, cotton, palm-nuts, coffee, cocoa, rubber, copal gum, sugar and ivory. Mineral products consist of copper, diamonds, gold, tin, cobalt, silver and radium. The Belgian Congo ranks high among copper producing countries. The diamond fields (in the southwestern district) produce over four million carats a year; rank next after the South African diamond fields. The uranium ore from the Katanga District is of produces about 90 per cent of the world supply of high grade, and the refinery at Oolen, Belgium, The chief industry is copper mining in Katanga where the copper bearing belt is 250 miles long by 25 to 50 miles wide. Tin, (discovered 1910), has been exploited since 1918. In the Katanga district is a large deposit of pitch-blende ore, from which the factory of Oolen, Belgium, produces about five grams of finished radium a month. Other important minerals are diamonds, gold, silver, cobalt, uranium and iron. Matadi is the most important port on the Congo, which is navigable for large vessels for 95 miles to Matadi. A railroad 249 miles long transships freight around the series of falls and rapids to Leopoldville on Stanley Pool. From here the river and its branches are navigable for about 3.750 miles. Railroads have been built around the falls on the upper river, and to connect important points. Belgian Congo's normal trade is chiefly with Belgium, although commerce with Germany, Japan and the United States is large. The Congo imports more goods from Japan than from any other country with the exception of Belgium. The monetary unit is the franc. Government revenue (1940) was estimated at 747,208,000 francs; expenditures at 779,821,500. Ruanda and Urandi, districts formerly in German East Africa, have been ceded to Belgium as mandatory of the League of Nations. The total area is 20,535 square miles. The population is estimated (1940) at 3,775,335, of whom 1,404 are Europeans, chiefly Belgians. Both districts are united administratively with Belgian Congo, under a vicegovernor at Astrida. The Ruanda Plateau is one of Africa's best cattle countries. Several peaks of the Birunga range reach an altitude of 14,000 ft. Bhutan Capital, Punakha—Area, 18,000 square miles-Population (est.) 300,000 The Kingdom of Bhutan is a semi-independent native state in the Himalayas between Thibet on the north and British India on the south, with Sikkam on the west. It is 190 miles long from east to west and 90 miles wide at its widest point. Punakha is a fortress of great natural strength. The inhabitants of Bhutan are Mongolians and adhere to a form of Buddhism. There is a monastery-Tashi-Cho-dzong-containing 300 priests. Agriculture is the chief industry. The principal products are rice, Indian corn, millet, lac, wax, various kinds of cloth, musk, elephants, ponies and chowries. The ruler of the kingdom is Maharajah Jig-me Wang-chuk (born 1906). He ascended the throne (Aug. 21, 1926). Since 1910 he has received a subsidy of 1,000,000 rupees from the British government. Bolivia (REPUBLICA BOLIVIANA) Capital, La Paz-Area, 537,792 square miles-Population (estimated 1938), 3,426,296 Bolivia is bounded by Peru and Chile on the west, Brazil on the north and east, Paraguay on the east and Argentina on the south. It lies across the Andes, and its chief topographical feature is the great central plateau at an altitude of 12,000 . ft., over 500 miles long, lying between two great cordilleras having three of the highest peaks in America. More than 50% of the population are Indians speaking their own dialects only, and 25% are of mixed blood. The percentage of illiteracy is high. Farming, grazing and mining are the chief Occupations. can read and write have the vote. Congress is composed of a Senate of 27 members elected for six years and a House of Deputies of 70, elected for four years. Agricultural products include potatoes, cacao, coffee, barley, coca, highland rice and rubber. It ranks as the second rubber exporting country of South America. The most important industry is mining. There are large deposits of tin, silver, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, bismuth, wolfram, gold and borate of lime. More than 15% of the world's output of tin is produced in Bolivia with an American corporation in control. The country ranks second to China in the mining of antimony. The petroleum industry is growing. Under Spanish rule (1540 to 1750) the mines produced gold to the value of $2,000,000,000. The annual production is now less than $500,000. La Paz, the capital, a city of great charm, lies in the heart of a gigantic canyon about three miles wide, ten miles long and 1,500 ft. deep, at an altitude of about 12,700 ft., and framed with high Andean peaks. Its huge cathedral where 12,000 people can worship (begun in 1835), was dedicated (March 4, 1933). In Lake Titicaca, about 125 miles long and 75 miles wide, are the islands of the Sun and the Moon famous in Inca legends. Primary education is free and compulsory. The University of Sucre was founded (1624). Roman Catholic is the recognized State religion but other forms of worship are permitted. Spanish is the language of the country. By the constitution (1880) the President is elected for four years by direct popular vote. He is not eligible for re-election until four years after his term has ended. All men over twenty-one who The century-old dispute with Paraguay over the Gran Chaco, the interior plain between the two countries north of the Pilcomayo River and west of the Paraguay, which flared up anew (1938) was bitterly fought out defying all settlement until 1935 when, under the good offices of a conference composed of representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and the United States an armistice was signed (June 12). A treaty of peace and friendship, terminating the Chaco dispute, was signed (July 21). Under its terms, settlement of the Chaco boundary question was referred to the Arbitral College composed of representatives of the six mediating American nations. The boundary line was fixed by arbitration (Oct. 10). Constitutional government was suppressed (1939) by President German Busch, who established a totalitarian state. His successor re-established Constitutional government. Gen. Enrique Penaranda was elected president (March 10, 1940). There is compulsory military service from 19 years to 50. There is also "pre-military" instruction for boys 12 to 19 and girls 15 to 20. The active army is limited to approximately 3,500 but with reserves the total fighting strength approaches 10,000 effectives. The Government expropriated (May 15, 1941) as a public necessity the Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, German air line operating in Bolivia. The line had an exclusive franchise for air service within Bolivia. The unit of currency is the boliviano; see Index, FOREIGN MONETARY UNITS. The budget (1941) is estimated to balance at 556,000,000 bolivanos. Since Bolivia has no seaport, imports and exports travel through Arica, Mollendo, Antofagasta, and La Quiaca. The principal imports are sugar, flour, wheat, coal, petroleum, iron and steel products, mining machinery. rice, wines and spirits, textiles and ready-made clothes. Peace time trade is divided among the United States, Germany and Great Britain in the order named. Brazil (ESTADOS UNIDOS DO BRASIL) heavily wooded basin of the Amazon (1,465.637 square miles in Brazil) which rises in the Peruvian Andes and empties into the Atlantic at the Equator. Capital, Rio de Janeiro—Area, 3,275,510 miles-Population (Preliminary, 1940 Census), 41,356,605. Brazil is the largest state in South America,, Peru and Colombia. The northern part is the great exceeding the size of continental United States (exclusive of Alaska) by 250,000 square miles. It has a coast line on the Atlantic Ocean of 4,889 miles, and extends approximately 2,676 miles from north to south and 2,694 miles east to west. It is bounded on the north by Venezuela and Dutch, British, and French Guianas; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south by Uruguay. Argentina and Paraguay; on the west by Bolivia, The Amazon basin has a network of rivers which are navigable for 15,814 miles. The Amazon river by itself is navigable for 1,700 miles, the es of its course in Brazilian territory. In all its ri Brazil possesses 27,318 miles of navigable w ways. Mountain ranges, interspersed with fertile | throne into exile by a revolution which established valleys. traverse the eastern and southern states. The majestic falls of the Iguassú, one of the natural wonders of the world, are on the border of Paraná, a southern state. Brazil's horsepower is estimated at about 19,519,100. The country is Catholic, but freedom of worship is guaranteed. The Protestant population, the second most important (1935) was 167,457. The University of Rio de Janeiro (now University of Brazil was founded 1920. Other universities are in Porto Alegre (state of Rio Grande do Sul), São Paulo (state of São Paulo) and Belo Horizonte (state of Minas Gerais). Many superior schools, although not yet organized into universities, are found in the capitals of the most advanced states. Brazil has approximately 39,000 primary schools. 913 high schools, and 217 colleges. Primary education is free and compulsory. The language of the country is Portuguese. The mineral wealth of Brazil is vast but comparatively little developed. Manganese ore is now exported exclusively to the United States. The country possesses enormous deposits of monazite. Gold production is about 100,000 contos ($50,000000) annually. Other principal minerals are cement, diamonds, iron and coal. The iron ore deposits are in process of development. Brazil began the production of petroleum (1940) and also developed plans for the manufacture of steel, using domestic ore. petroleum, and coal. The cultivated area is about 32,250,266,384 acres for the principal crops, cultivation in Brazil being characterized by extensive planting rather than concentrated. Cotton is another important agricultural product, as is rubber. The country is the only producer of Carnauba wax, used for electric insulation, phonograph records and many other applications. Stock raising is important and the export of meat. hides and skins, and wool is increasing. The ten most important items exported by Brazil (1940) were: coffee, cotton, canned meat, hides and skins. cocoa, carnaúba wax, castor beans, precious and semi-precious stones, and timber. The ten most important items imported by Brazil (1940) were: machinery and hardware tools, wheat, Iron and steel manufactures, automobiles, coal, chemical and pharmaceutical products, other vehicles and accessories, gasoline, steel and iron raw material, and combustibles. Brazil, discovered (1500) by Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, was developed as a colony of Portugal until the royal house of Braganza, fleeing from Lisbon before Napoleon's army (Nov. 1807) transferred the seat of Government to Rio de Janeiro (March, 1808). Brazil was proclaimed a kingdom (1815) and Dom Pedro, son of King John VI, who had been left as Regent on his father's return to Portugal, was crowned Constitutional Emperor (1822) and Brazil freed from Portugal. He abdicated (1831) in favor of his son Dom Pedro II, who was then five years old. Crowned (1841), he ruled with varying fortune (until Nov. 15, 1889) when he was driven from the a republic, the United States of Brazil. The Constitution (adopted Feb. 24, 1891) was modeled largely on that of the United States. There are 20 states, with limited autonomy, and one territory (Acre), bought from Bolivia (1902), and one Federal district. Church weddings re Divorces are forbidden. ceive the status of civil weddings. A tax on bachelors was decreed (April 19, 1941); also provisions for pre-marital physical examinations. Under the Constitution (1934) suffrage. was extended to all men and women 18 years of age; the president was elected by direct suffrage for a term of four years and was barred from succeeding himself. The government was reorganized along semicorporative lines (Nov. 10, 1937) by President Getulio Vargas, who promulgated a Constitution calling for the establishment of a Council of National Economy to govern the economic life of the nation in conjunction with a remodeled Legislature composed of a Chamber of Deputies and a Federal Council. Ten members of the Federal Council, including the presiding officer, are chosen by the President of Brazil; the remainder are chosen by each of the 20 State legislatures. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of representatives of the people elected by indirect suffrage. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are chosen by the Aldermen of Municipal Chambers and a select group of 10 citizens in the various municipalities elected by the people. President Vargas ordered all State legislatures and Municipal Assemblies dissolved and fresh elections after the Constitution has been approved. Getulio Vargas, running for President (1929). was defeated, but, charging fraud, seized the government (Nov. 3, 1930) and was installed in office (1934). His term expires (Nov. 1943), provided that an amended Constitution is approved at a plebiscite. The monetary unit is the milréis with an average value of $.05. The budget (1941) estimates receipts at 4,124,546 contos; expenditures, 4,881,197 contos. (One conto equals 1,000 milréis). Brazil launched (Jan. 20, 1939) a five-year plan, entailing the expenditure of $150,000,000 for the improvement of public works and national defense. All males between the ages of 18 and 45 are subject to military duty under a selective service system. There is one year of service in the first line and eight in the reserve. The strength of the Army approximates 95,000. There is an air force with a personnel of 5,000. The Brazilian Navy is being modernized. The Army and Navy relinquished control of their air arms (1940) to the Air Ministry which controls civil and military aviation. Aviation has made tremendous strides in Brazil. The number of landing fields (1940) was 512; commercial plane flights, 7,900; passengers carried. 70,734; and mileage flown, 4,337,300. Bulgaria (BLGARIYA) Capital, Sofia-42,808 square miles-Population (1940), 6,549,664 Bulgaria is bounded on the north by Rumania, on the west by Yugo-Slavia, on the south by Greece, on the east by the Black Sea, and on the southeast by Turkey. It is about the size of Kentucky. The Principality of Bulgaria was created by the Treaty of Berlin (July 13, 1878) as autonomous and tributary principality under the suzerainty of the Sultan of Turkey. Bulgaria declared its independence (Oct. 5, 1908). Eastern Rumelia joined Bulgaria (Sept. 16, 1885) after revolution against the Sultan. Rumania ceded to Bulgaria (1940) all of southern Dobruja, 2.983 square miles, with a population of 378,364. The cession restored the boundary line of 1912. Bulgaria was an ally of the Central Powers in the World War. By the Peace Treaty of Neuilly (Paris) (Nov. 27, 1919), Bulgaria ceded Thrace to Greece and the Strumnitza Line" and a strip of territory on the northwest to Serbia. The treaty deprived Bulgaria of the Aegean Sea front. The Treaty of Lausanne (1923), giving Thrace to Turkey, fixes the boundary between Bulgaria and Turkey just west of Adrianople. acts was to dissolve Parliament and political parties. The government changed hands five times (between May, 1934, and Nov., 1935). M. G. Kiosseivanoff became Premier (Nov. 23, 1935). The Parliament consists of a single chamber called the Sobranye or National Assembly, with 227 members elected by direct vote. Suffrage is enjoyed by all males over 21 and all married females over 21. A new cabinet was formed (Feb. 16, 1940) by Prof. Bogdan Philoff after the resignation of the Kiosseivanoff ministry as Balkan affairs again came to the fore. Bulgaria signed the Three Power (Axis) pact (March 1, 1941) as German forces moved into the country, occupying the airfields, the port of Varna on the Black Sea and Sofia, the capital. The treaty of Neuilly limited Bulgarian armed forces, all ranks, to 30,000, all volunteers. The war strength is approximately 500,000. Under the terms of the Neuilly Treaty Bulgaria surrendered all warships and submarines but is permitted to maintain a police and fishery patrol along the Danube. The King of Bulgaria is Boris III (born Jan. 30, 1894). He ascended the throne on the abdicaA military coup d'etat, executed without blood-tion of his father, Ferdinand (Oct. 3, 1918) and shed (May 19, 1934), turned out the Mushanov was married (Oct. 25, 1930) to Princess Giovanna Cabinet and set up a Fascist government with Col. Kimon Gueorgulev as Premier. One of its first (born Nov. 13, 1907), third daughter of the King and Queen of Italy. The children are Crown Prince |
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