Evening star., 1933-12-31
1888 MARKS DEPRESSION
LET-UP In LATIN AMERICA
Change for Better Is Recorded for First
Time Since l929-Political Record
Is Considerably Improved.

ends today. President Vincent in
creased his following by the conclusion
Of the executive agreement with the
United States, tending toward the sup
preston of American interference and
| then by his request to President Roose-
welt that the aims of the agreement
be fulfilled at once, without waiting
for the time provided therein.
Big Disturbance in Cuba.
The support which President AriaS OF
Panama always enjoyed among all
classes of the Panamanian people was
continued throughout the year. II any
thing. it was increased by his trip TO
the United States, Mexico and some OF
the Central American nations, and his
conferences with President Roosevelt,
which resulted in gentleman's agree
mint to improve the present status OF
Panamanian- American relations.
! In Cuba, of course. took place the one
major disturbance of the year in Latin
American politics. But here. too, the
outbreaks of violence and the unrest
prevailing even now may be more prop
erly described as the consequence OF
| conditions which had been accumulat
/ ing since 1928, when President Machado
! had himself reelected - conditions
which only sheer violence and sklllful
diplomacy had kept from exploding be-
! fore August. 1888. Moreover. the relative
! leniency of the civil strife in Cuba after
! the peaceful withdrawal of Machado,
| the mild reaction of the masses after a
! dictatorship of several years. is rather
! surprising to the person familiar with
Latin American political emotions. Re
member only the most recent case be-
fore Machado; remember how many
changes II took Peru to secure q stable
government after the fall of Dictator
Leguia.
/ In South America the record of 1888
is also remarkable compared with that
! of the depression years. In Colombia
President Olaya entered the last year Of
/ his administration with strong parlia-
mentary support and his popularity en-
hanced by the dignifed manner in
which he led the nation in the Leticia
| conflict with Peru.
To Venezuela peace in 1888 was Moth
ing new. A few days ago she celebrated
the completion of Is years of continual
stability. This is, Of course, an unusua.
record in Latin America. But then,
too, Venezuela has an unusual man at
the helm. Under the leadership Of
Gen. Gomez the Venezuelan people re-
malned during the year peacefully de-
voted to the development of their
culture and natural resources.
In Ecuador various revolutionary
plots were reported during the year, bur
none materialized. Not long ago Presi-
dent Martinez Mera rendered his resig-
! nation, confronted by bitter oppositlcn
in Congress. But even this failed to
provoke disorders or renew the civil
struggles of 1881 and 1892 Presidential
elections were orderly conducted few
weeks ago and the man constitutionally
chosen to head the new government will
soon be inaugurated in office.
| The assassination of President San
chez Cerro of Peru also failed to plunge
that country into the internal anarchy
at which the perpetrator of the crime
was declared to have aimed. The
Peruvian Congress quickly selected Gen
BenavideS to fill the vacant post and
the liberal measures he Immediately
adopted rather weakened the opposition
which the government had confronted
under Sanchez Cerro.
Interest Centered in Chaco.
In Bolivia. as well as in Paraguay.
internal politics were naturally rele-
gated to second place by the Chaco
conflict, which only now has been
brought to halt. The external situ-
alton strengthened the position at home
OF OOlA governments, InOuRn ltS maj
outcome may equally affect them in
the months to come.
Argentina and Chile had also a
normal year, politically speaking. No
major internal crisis distracted the gov
ernments of President Justo and Ales-
sandri from their efforts at national
reconstruction after the disturbances of
previous years. The same was true
of Brazil where a minor outbreak was
easily quelled and the way paved for
a return of the country to a consti-
tutional status through general cleo
tions.
Finally. in Uruguay, it was the Presi-
dent, and not the opposition, that en-
acted coup detat" in order to in
trench himself in power and dispose
of the council Of administration, his
most powerful opponent Despite the
threat of a civil war the dissolution of
the council was carried out smoothly
and President Terra was able this
month TO set aside political worries to
entertain the delegates of 20 American
republics to the Seventh Pan-American
Conference
(Copyright, 1889