Venezuela (ESTADOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA) Capital, Caracas-Area, 352,170 square miles-Population (1936) 3,491,159 Venezuela is the northernmost state of South America and is bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea, with a coast line of 1,750 miles, on the east by British Guiana, the southeast by Brazil, and the west and southwest by Colombia, with maximum measurements of 928 miles from east to west, 790 miles from north to south. Seventy-two islands are included in the territory of Venezuela, the largest being Margarita (20 by 40 miles) which has been made the State of Nueva Esparta, and is an important pearl center. remarkable equally for its engineering and its incomparable mountain scenery, 25 miles long, connects La Guaira, the seaport, with Caracas, a distance of about seven miles airline. The connecting railway is 23 miles long. In all, Venezuela has more than 6.000 miles of highways. The Orinoco River, with its tributaries, drains about four-fifths of the country. About 1,100 miles in length and 1311⁄2 miles wide at the apex of the delta, it is the third largest river system in South America, and is navigable to Puerto Ayacucho (more than 1,000 miles upstream), where the extensive rapids of Atures and Maipures prevent further navigation. Venezuela is entirely within the Torrid Zone, the southern boundary extending to less than one degree north of the Equator. The northernmost point is 12° 11'. The spurs of the Eastern Andes and the foothills are covered with dense forests; the high plateaus provide excellent grazing. The climate is tropical in Central Ilanos and in the coastal regions, becoming temperate between 1,800 and 6,000 feet, and cold in the higher sections. Agriculture and stock raising are the chief industries. It is estimated that 20% of the total population (or about 75% of those gainfully employed) is engaged in the former. Coffee is the major agricultural export, and is second only to petroleum in total export value. Other important exports are cacao, balata, tonka beans, hides and rubber. Imports are textiles, machinery and hardware, foodstuffs, chemicals and drugs. Venezuela is one of the foremost petroleum countries of the world. Other minerals are gold, copper, coal, salt, iron, tin, asbestos and mica. Diamonds are also mined. Caracas, the capital, has an estimated population of about 300,000 (an increase of nearly 100,000 since the 1936 census). Other cities (1936 census) are: Maracaibo, 110,010; Valencia, 49,214; Barquisimeto, 36,429; and Ciudad Bolivar, 25, 134, a thriving river port 270 miles from the mouth of the Orinoco, and an outlet for half the area of Venezuela-the Guayana Highlands. The city has many imposing and important buildings, some of them of keen historical interest. The Trans-Andean highway extends from Caracas west to San Cristobal near the Colombian border, and to Cucuta, over the line, a distance of 790 miles through the richest parts of the country, crossing the Andes at an altitude of 14,100 ft. Buses make it in three days. A concrete road, Venezuela is constructing (1941) a 700-mile highway through the interior to Colombia. The road is part of the Government's program to open up the interior and to increase colonization. Venezuela has had many revolutions and many revisions of its Constitution since the first was adopted (1819). That now in force was promulgated (July 11, 1936) and provides for a President, elected by Congress for five years; a Senate of 40 members, and a House of Deputies of 85 members, elected for four years; 50% of both Houses is renewed every two years. There are 20 autonomous states, a federal district and two territories. The Constitution also embraces a basic labor law that calls for a certain amount of profit sharing, compulsory compensation insurance, recognition of trades unions and collective bargaining, an eighthour day, and a revised banking law requiring banks to keep 80% of their deposits invested in Venezuela. Men over 21 have suffrage. Isaias Medina Angarita was elected President by Congress (April 28, 1941).. The President must be Venezuelan by birth, at least 30 years of age, and may not be a cleric. Cabinet members must possess the same qualifications. More The government has shown great interest in public health, and expenditures for public health work have been increased in the last two or three years. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare outlined a 3-year plan (1938-1940) of health work, much of which has been put in operation. than 70 water supply systems, and 16 sewerage systems, at a total cost of over 46 million bolivares are planned. The fields in which the most work is actually being done are malaria control, tuberculosis, maternal and child welfare, venereal disease and health education. The language is Spanish and Roman Catholic is the State religion, but religious freedom is guaranteed. All education, including college, is free. Primary and secondary education are compulsory. Military service is obligatory between 21 and 45. This comprises three years' service in the active army and in the reserve until 45. The monetary unit is the bolivar; see Index, Latin American Exchange Rates. The bolivar has a nominal value of $.28. Government receipts (1940-1941) are estimated at 344,515,000 bolivars with expenditures the same. Venezuela has no public debt. Yugoslavia (KRALJEVINA YUGO-SLAVIA) Capital, Belgrade-Area, 95,558 square miles-Population (est. 1940) 16,200,000 The Kingdom of the Yugoslavia, populated by the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, is bounded by Germany (Austria), Hungary and Rumania on the north, by Rumania and Bulgaria on the east, by Greece in the south, and Italy (Albania), the Adriatic Sea and Italy on the west. Serbia, which had since the Battle of Kosovo, (1389) been a vassal principality of Turkey, was established as an independent kingdom by the Treaty of Berlin (July 13, 1878). After the Balkan wars (1913) her boundaries were enlarged by the annexation of Old Serbia. The Government of Austria-Hungary laid the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914) to a Serbian plot and by invasion following her ultimatum brought on the World War (1914-18). Serbia was overrun and suffered enormously, but (October, 1918) her army smashed the invaders' resistance on the Salonika front and, with an irresistible drive toward the north, reoccupied Belgrade (Nov. 3, 1918). At the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the National Assemblies formed in different provinces of the Empire: Croatia, Slovenia, Dalmatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Voyvodina and the former independent state of Montenegro as well voted the reunion in one common and independent state, together with Serbia. This union was proclaimed and became effective (Dec. 1, 1918) with Peter I of Serbia as King of the new "Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes," later officially named "The Kingdom of Yugoslavia." King Peter I was succeeded on his death (1921) by his son Alexander I, who was assassinated (Oct. 9, 1934) at Marseilles, France, by a terrorist. Crown Prince Peter (born Sept. 6, 1923) was proclaimed King (Oct. 11, 1934) with a regency of three members until he becomes of age. The Regency resigned (March 27, 1941) two days after the Cabinet of Premier Dragisha Cvetkovitch had joined Yugoslavia with the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan). King Peter ascended the throne (March 28) and the Cvetkovitch Cabinet resigned. King Peter appointed a new Cabinet with Gen. Richard Dusan Simovitch, chief of the Air Corps, as Premier. The new Cabinet refused to ratify the Axis pact. The legislative power is vested in the King, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The country under the constitution of 1931 is a parliamentary and hereditary monarchy. The Senate consists of members elected for six years, half of whom are re-elected every three years. The King may nominate as many as the number elected. The original 33 provinces were abolished (1930) and the country divided into nine banats (counties) and the district of Belgrade. Yugoslavia was occupied by the Axis armies (1941). King Peter fled and established a refugee government in England with Prime Minister Dusan Simovitch as its head. Italy, Albania and Bulgaria took slices out of Yugoslavia and there also were recreated Montenegro and Croatia. Serbia was reduced to its pre-1918 proportions. All male inhabitants over the age of 21 have the right to vote. The last general election to Parliament (Dec. 11, 1938) resulted in the choice of 373 Deputies. Premier Dragisha Cvetkovitch formed a new cabinet (Feb. 5, 1939) comprised of Croats, Slovenes, Mohammedans and Serbs. Thre Premier was instructed by Prince Paul, Chief Regent, to legislate a new form of accord with the Croats. This accord was reached (Aug. 26, 1939) whereby an autonomous Croat province was created with its own Parliament (Sabor) to deal with their own administrative, cultural, economic and financial problems. At the same time free elections with the secret ballot and freedom of the press were restored. The monetary unit is the dinar with a nominal value of $.23 until the occupation by Germany. The budget (1939-1940) estimated revenue of 12,786.000 dinars and expenditures of 11,920,000. Elementary education is nominally compulsory and free. There are universities at Belgrade, Zagreb, Lyublyana, Skoplye and Subotica. All religions are recognized and enjoy equal rights. Serbian-Orthodox ranks first followed by the Roman Catholic. Under the law of 1931 Army service is compulsory for men between the ages of 21 and 50. Service in the active Army is for 20 years with two years under the colors. For 18 years the soldier remains subject to recall for training and the last ten years is passed in the second reserve. Agriculture is the basic industry, for Yugoslavia is a country of small peasant holdings, and. it is closely followed by cattle raising and forestry. These furnish occupation for 85% of the population. Nearly one-third of the area is covered with forests (19,068,637 acres), about 60% (35,963,159 acres) is devoted to agriculture, and of this, 80% is sown to cereals. The chief crops are wheat. barely, rye, oats, corn, hops and grapes. The principal minerals are coal, iron, copper, chrome-ore, lead, salt and bauxite. The country is the largest producer of copper in Europe. The river navigation of the Danube and the Sava is important. Split and Sushak, with excellent docks, are the largest of the 58 ports. The chief exports are wheat, corn, tobacco, hops. copper, lead, iron-ore, bauxite, cement and prunes; the chief imports, cotton and woollen textiles, machinery and chemicals. (1) Gave notice of withdrawal (April 19, 1941); (2) Gave notice of withdrawal (July 11, 1940); (3) Gave notice of withdrawal (June 17, 1941). It should be noted that the League recognized the annexation of Austria by Germany (March, 1938). Germany now dominates Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece, Holland, Luxemburg-as well as France and Rumanía. Poland was divided between Germany and Russia. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are parts of the Soviet Union. Control of Yugoslavia is divided between Germany and Italy. Italy has annexed Albania. Germany entered the League (Sept. 10, 1926) and (Oct. 19, 1933) gave the required two years' notice of withdrawal because the powers in the Disarmament Conference refused to grant her equality in arms. She officially withdrew (Oct. 19, 1935). Japan having given notice (1933), officially withdrew (March 27, 1935), but retains her mandates in the Pacific. Japan withdrew because the League adopted the report of the Lytton Commission reaffirming Chinese sovereignty over Manchuria and condemning Japan's aggressive action. Italy gave two years notice of withdrawal (Dec. 11, 1937) because, during her war with Ethiopia, the League applied economic and financial sanctions against her, and after these measures were raised. refused officially to recognize her sovereignty over Ethiopia. Italy withdrew (1939). The twentieth session of the Assembly, which was postponed until December, 1939, on account of the outbreak of the war, expelled the Soviet Union because of her aggression against Finland and asked member-states to give Finland any aid in their power. It also adopted the Bruce Report, placing League non-political work in the charge of a new Central Committee on Social and Economic Questions with which non-member states will be invited to cooperate fully. The Assembly, the Parliament of the League, in which all nations may have three delegates and one vote ordinarily meets annually in September. The Council, the Cabinet of the League, met at least three times a year. The Secretariat, the Civil Service of the League, has employed as many as 700, but at present has about 100 workers of whom about 70 are still in Geneva. The Assembly gave emergency power (1938) to the League Supervisory Commission, enabling it to vote a budget to carry on reduced activities in the absence of regular Assembly and Council meetings. The League has established a branch of its Economic and Financial Department in Princeton, N. J.. because of the difficulties of communication in Switzerland. The Permanent Central Opium Board and the Drug Supervisory Body of the League have opened a branch office in Washington, D. C. Thus, in the United States and in Geneva some of the nonpolitical work of the League continues, even under war conditions. Japan Supplies Canaries to the United States Source: Foreign Commerce Weekly, Aug. 2, 1941 Canaries, formerly supplied to the United States from Germany, are now coming in increasing numbers from Japan. Advices from Japan indicate that shipments to the United States during the first half of the current year approximated 50,000 birds which compared with 1,000 during all of 1940. The outstanding problem in connection with this trade, Japanese shippers state, is the heavy mortality that takes place in the long voyage across the Pacific, but they are hoping that means will be found to overcome this obstacle. Canaries are but one of a number of new items appearing in Japan's export trade with the United States since of war eliminated many European sources of supply. Another item in this class is cuttlefish bones for bird food, a commodity formerly supplied by Italy. Several Japanese firms are reported interested in this trade, one company reports that in a single month orders received from the United States for cuttlefish bones amounted to more than 25 tons. Rulers or Heads of Governments of the World Source: Latest official sources and news despatches; B means Bey; C, Czar; E, Emperor; EM, Emir; F and C, Fuehrer and Chancellor; G, Governor; GD, Grand Duchess; GG, Governor-General; HC, High Commissioner; K, King; LG, Lieut. Gen.; M, Maharajah; P, President; PM, Prime Minister; PR, Prince; PRE, Premier; PRO, Protector; P and S, Pope and Sovereign; Q, Queen; R, Regent; SH, Shah: SU, Sultan; V. Viceroy. Sino-Japanese War A night clash between Japanese and Chinese | soldiers at Marco Polo bridge, just outside of Peiping (July 7, 1937), started an undeclared war in China that later developed into a Japanese campaign to set up a new economic order in Eastern Asia. After four years of fighting the Japanese had control of approximately 9,000,000 square miles of China with a population of 200,000,000, China's greatest ports and commercial cities. The Chinese army was estimated at 5,000,000, with 10,000,000 additional troops in training and 800,000 Chinese guerrillas operating against the Japanese. The Japanese forces were approximated at 1,000,000, holding a line 2,800 miles from north to south. Including Manchukuo, the fighting line of the Japanese was estimated at 8,000 miles. When the Japanese troops advance too far from their bases they run the risk of destruction of their lines of communications from the rear. Chinese guerrillas also operate close to some of the large cities held by the Japanese. The Japanese casualty toll for four years of fighting is estimated by China at 1,994,260 killed or wounded and 24,082 prisoners. The Chinese war minister, Gen. Ho Ying-chin, said that Japan had lost 336,000 men in the fighting during the twelve months ending May 31, 1941. Gen. Ho said that the Japanese had lost 12,322 tanks and armored cars, 1,838 field guns, 7,888 machine guns, 2,054 planes and 2,650 air force personnel killed. He said there had been 6,272 separate clashes in the last year and that the only Chinese reverse was the loss of Foochow. On the other hand he reported China had regained the southern part of Kwangsi, the southernmost province. The Tokio war office put the Japanese loss in lives at 109,250; China's losses at 2,015,000 lives and 1,800,000 wounded. The Japanese Finance Ministry puts its cost at 22,335,000,000 yen (nominal value slightly less than 25 cents.) Japanese military authorities say that China has lost 1,977 planes, 1,475 tanks and armored cars and other vehicles and 480,000 other arms. More than 50,000,000 Chinese have fled to new homes in the interior of the country. These Chinese have carried with them whole industrial cities with their machinery and have started new manufacturing areas. In China's coastal areas Japan has crippled or starved and driven out much of the third power trade and enterprise. Japanese occupied cities in China are partly ruined as a result of bombings and shellings preceding the capture and as a result of the Chinese "scorched earth" policy of leaving nothing of value behind for the invader. The Japanese forces captured (1937) Peiping. Tientsin, North China, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Nanking, the Lunghai railway region and the port of Amoy on the South China seacoast. Japanese forces captured (1938) Kiukiang, Yangtze river port, Hankow, China's capital after the fall of Nanking, and the great iron ore region of Central China. Canton, the rich port in South China, fell (Oct. 21, 1938) and then Japan began to consolidate its gains. Nanchang, in Central China, was captured by the Japanese (March 29, 1939). A Japanese naval landing party seized Swatow (June 21, 1939) and then blockaded Ningpo, Wenchow and Foochow. The Japanese controlled (Aug. 1939) all the important commercial ports of China in its campaign to cut off the supply of munitions from outside. Before the fall of Hankow, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek moved his capital to Chungking, in Szechwan province, 1,000 miles in the interior. Chungking was bombed repeatedly (1940) by Japanese air forces. The border of Manchukuo was the scene (1939) of frequent clashes between the land and air forces of Japan and Russia. There was fighting (July and August) at Changkufeng Hill near the borders of Manchukuo, Korea and Siberia that amounted to miniature war, with each side claiming overwhelming victories. Earlier (May, 1939) there had been clashes in the Lake Bor region in northwestern Manchukuo on the disputed border of Outer Mongolia. These frequent clashes immobilized large bodies of Japanese troops in watching the Russians. Russia and Japan signed an armistice (Sept. 16, 1939). Japan was in frequent conflict with foreign powers (1938-1939), although there were no such incidents as the sinking of the American gunboat Panay (1937) and the wounding of the British Ambassador to China (1937). Japanese air bombings led to many protests by the American and British Governments over the damage done to their nationals, missions and other properties. Japan applied restrictive measures to the trade of third powers in all occupied territory and ports and (May, 1939) warned that foreign craft suspected of transporting war materials to China would be halted and searched. The Yangtze river was closed to foreign commerce from Hankow to its mouth.. Many of the foreign protests to Tokio were based on the charges that Japan had infringed on the nine-power treaty and the open-door to trade in China. The nine-power treaty (signed Feb. 6, 1922) established the principle of equal opportunity for trade and industry to all nations in China. The United States served notice on Japan (July 26, 1939) that it would abrogate its treaty of commerce and navigation. Under the treaty's terms six months were necessary to elapse before the abrogation took effect. The six months' period expired (Jan. 26, 1940) and thereafter trade relations between the United States and Japan were on a day-to-day basis. An All-China" Japanese-sponsored regime, headed by Wang-Ching-wei, former Chinese Premier, was proclaimed (March 30, 1940) at Nanking, China, dedicated to end the war and to establish a new economic relationship. |