Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-14
RECEPTION MARKS
ECUADOR FREEDOM.
Centenary of Republics Birth
Is Celebrated at Pan
American Union.

The centenary of the independence
Of Ecuador as a sovereign republic is
being celebrated today by a reception
at the Ecuadorian embassy here, al
the Pan-American Union and in friend
~ interchanges between the two govern
mentS.
mo country in the New World has a
more interesting history than Ecuador '
the n-American Union points out
'and its products are well known in the
United States"
The new Minister from Ecuador. a
distinguished scholar. lawyer, scientist
and statesman. DR.. Homero Viteri La
fronte, presented his letters to Presi-
dent Hoover on October IS, 1929. He
was formerly minister of foreign relief
in Ecuador. He was a member of The
Hague Court of Arbitration, a member
of the commission for revision of the
constitution and laws of the republic,
was president of the Ecuadorean dele
cation to the sixth international con-
ference of American states. He has
many literary and scientific works TO
his credit He was dean of the school
of jurisprudence in Quito University
and assistant director of the National
Academy of History. He has been dec
GRATED by five countries.
With Nine Viteri a charming and
talented hostess. and his sister. DR..
Viteri is conducting a centennial re-
ception today which is attended by the
official representatives of all the world
powers
The United States is represented in
Ecuador by a Minister. William Daw-
son, who was recently appointed to
that post. Mr.. Dawson has been con-
nected with the foreign service of the
United States for many years and has
held many important consular posts
In various capitals in Latin America.
The movement for independence in
Ecuador began in 1909 and a decided
victory was won over the Spanish
royalist forces by Gen. Sucre at the
which assured the independence of the
country. Five days after this battle
an assembly declared that the territory
of the former presidency of Quito
should be incorporated with the Great
er Colombia under the presidency OF
Simon Bolivar, composing what are
now the republics of Colombia, Panama,
Venezuela and Ecuador. This union
was disrupted in the year 1880, when
a constitutional assembly met at Rio
banda on August IA and proclaimed
the constitution of the Republic OF
Ecuador Ecuador is a centralized re-
public. It's constitution is liberal For
efgners are guaranteed the same rights
as the citizens of Ecuador.
Freedom of worship and of the press
Is assured. Women may exercise all
the right granted to Ecuadorians ana
when single may also have the free ad-
n1inistration of their property. Mar
ried women may obtain administrator
Of their property by short judicial
process. Aliens may acquire and hold
title under the same conditions as Ecua-
corians Public credit is guaranteed
and funds set aside for the payment OF
public debt cannot, under the constltu-
ton, be used for other purposes.
The President Of the republic Is
elected for a term of four years by
direct vote and cannot be reelected
except after q lapse of two terms. In
addition to a cabinet, consisting of five
ministers appointed by the President,
there is Council of State, which is
consulted by him in important 14atters
and which represents Congress when
not in session.
The population of the republic is es-
timated at 100000 inhabitants. The
capital is Quito, with about 100000 in
habitants, situated on the plateau be-
tween the two mountain ranges at an
elevation of 9,371 feet. It is now easily
reached by rail, the distance from
Guayaquil being 297 miles. Quito shares
with Mexico City and CuZeo (Peru) the
distinction of antedating the discovery
of America. GlIayaquil, the largest sea-
port of Ecuador, with nearly 100000 in
habitants, is a contrast to the. capital.
Situated on the Guayas River about 40
miles from the coast. but at sea level,
it is tropical city, but busy and am
bilious. Extensive improvements in
streets, transportation, buildings, sani-
tation and other upbuilding influences
have been marked in recent years.