Evening star., 1932-01-01
NEW GOVERNMENTS
SET UP DURING 1881
Changes in Spain, England
and Many Other Nations
Cited in Survey.

One Of the worlds leading monarchies
became a republic; the greatest empire
was well under way toward official con-
version to a commonwealth" and one
of the few remaining absolute mon
archies was given conStitution-those
were the outstanding changes in status
among the countries Of the world dur
ing 1881 according to a bulletin from
the National Geographic Society.
SPANS proclamation Of a republic
on April IA was the most spectacular
change of the year." says the bulletin.
Later a constitutional convention was
held, and on December the new re-
publican constitution adopted.
Empire Grants Rights.
although the term British Com
monWealth of Nations has been used
for several years in regard to the as
sociation of Great Britain and the Do
minionS, the former has continued by
statute to be paramount, the laws of
its Parliament superior to those of the
other parts Of the empire. In December
the House of Commons passed the
statute OF Westminster, giving all the
DominionS full national status to stand
beside the United Kingdom as equal
parnerS in the dignity and reGponSi-
bility of the British Commonwealth.
In Ethiopia (Abysslnia) Emperor
Halle SelasSie I surprised his people on
July l6 by the gift of a constitution. A
Parliament Of two houses has been set
up.
mo official change in sovereignty had
taken place in Manchuria at the end of
the year. Hostilities continued in that
area between japanese and Chinese
forces.
Sovereignty Debated.
Radical changes for India were dis
cuSsed at the second Round Table Con-
ference held in London, but the year
ended without agreement among the
many Indian minoritieS
Denmark and Norway were drawn
into dispute in July when a party of
Norwegian hunters raised the Morse
flag over portion of East Greenland.
Denmark submitted the matter to the
Permanent Court of International JUS
tice at The Hague, and later Iceland
put in claim for the territory. No
action has been taken by the court,
by decision Of the King of Italy,
acting as arbiter, Clipperton Rock, a
oesolate spot of land $40 miles off the
Pacific coast Of Mexico. was awarded
to France, against the claim of Mexico.
A garrison of Mexican soldiers had
been kept on the island since 1897.
Changes in Caribbean.
"A rebellion waxed and waned in
Burma throughout the year. In Au-
gust one of the leaders was captured
by British forces, and by the end of
the year hostilities had died down.
Nearer home, the United States
made two changes in its Caribbean
sphere Of influence. The Virgin Islands
were given a civil governor and ad-
miniStration, replacing the naval ad-
mlniStration that has been in charge of
the islands since their purchase from
Denmark in 1917. In Haiti the United
States transferred authority to the Hal
tan government, except in matters Of
public finance and the gendarmerie.
In South America several clashes
occurred during the year between the
forces OF Paraguay and Bolivia in the
disputed area of the Gran Chaco. A
number Of commissions have considered
the problem Of marking out boundary,
but no decision has been reached.
Division Of French Guiana into |
coastal strip to retain the old name,
and large interior colony to be known |
as mini, was announced by France.
Chilean Rule Changed.
"Chile's government by dictator was
overthrown in July and an acting |
President placed in charge. A naval |
mutiny on September l was suppressed |
and the new regime remained In power |
In Central America the year began |
and ended with revolutions. The gov
ernment of Panama was forcibly over |
thrown on January 2. In December !
there was revolution in Salvador, |
which resulted in complete change of !
regime.
New lands were discovered near the !
two ends of the earth. In the North, |
four islands were found by the Soviet |
icebreaker Maligin, and were claimed |
as part Of Franz Josef Land. In the (
Antarctic Sir Douglas MswSon dis !
covered new areas of land between
Adele Land and Queen Mary Land .
as well as an ice-covered island near
latitude 65 south and longitude 103
east"