PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY Washington, D. C. April, 1921 [Pg 4] [Pg 5] THIS REPORT The first of a series of economic surveys of the commercial areas of the world to be conducted as aids to American overseas commerce by Students of the School of Foreign Service Is Dedicated TO Señor Doctor Esteban Gíl Borges MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF VENEZUELA Upon Whom as Representing the People of The Land of Bolívar Georgetown University will Confer With felicitations The Honorary Degree of Doctor of L

to the Regent of the School of Foreign Service Sir: In order to afford the students of the School of Foreign Service an opportunity to practise Spanish and to study at first hand economic conditions in one of the South American countries, it was decided in May, 1920, to send a group of not more than twenty to Venezuela under the direction of the Professor of Spanish. The Knights of Columbus agreed to pay for the expenses of twelve of the students, who were holders of scholarships awarded by that

References Used. —History of South America, W. H. Koebel; With the Trade Winds, Ira Nelson Morris; The Land of Bolívar, Statesman's Yearbook, 1918-1919; Reports of International High Commission; Reports of Minister of Finance (Venezuela); Official Gazette of Venezuela. The United States of Venezuela occupies the northernmost part of South America bounded on the ocean side by the Atlantic and the Caribbean and on the land side by British Guiana, Colombia and Brazil. It has an area of 393,976 squa

References: The last official census of Venezuela, which was completed in the year 1891, placed the population of the country at 2,323,527. According to the Venezuelan Year Book of 1904, 10% of the people are white and of European descent, but by far the larger part, possibly 70% of the total, is a mixed race in which white and Indian blood prevail, the remainder being pure Indian blood. It is not to be expected that the new census, begun in August, 1919, will show any great changes because of t

With an increasing commerce and steady betterment of domestic economic conditions, the ports of Venezuela are rapidly assuming a position that for continued development and general good condition has never been equalled in the history of the country. All countries recognize the vital economic value of ports and with few exceptions can gauge their own prosperity by the nature and number of their harbors. Few countries are more dependent upon their ports than Venezuela. Because of poor inland comm

Venezuela, northernmost of the South American republics, comprises an area of 393,976 square miles, including vast mineral resources and land well suited for agricultural pursuits and cattle raising. Among the principal agricultural products which Venezuela raises in sufficient quantity for export to other parts of the world are coffee, cocoa, sugar, tobacco and rubber. Other exports are gold, hides and skins. Among the principal imports we find cotton goods, wheat flour, and, in short, all manu

Pronounced improvements in the political, economic and social life of the Republic of Venezuela have been effected within the last few years by the construction, upon a broad and comprehensive scale, of a system of national highways totalling, in extent of completed roads, 2,900 kilometers (approximately 1,800 miles). These have been specifically designed to bear the burden of motor transportation both of passengers and freight, as well as of all classes of vehicular and equestrian traffic. Buil

The Agricultural Zone of Venezuela covers about 300,000 square kilometers, according to recent statistics, and extends from the Atlantic Ocean to Colombia, embracing the territory between the Caribbean seacoast and the plains of the Orinoco towards the south of the country. Venezuela has fertile soil, perfect adaptability to the growth and maturity of everything that is essential to the existence of man and beast, mild climate, with temperatures varying according to the elevation of the land and

This report is based chiefly on conferences and trips with Dr. Martínez Mendoza, Director of the Agricultural Experimental Station, and on notes which he very kindly furnished. The following references have also been consulted: "Venezuela." Handbook prepared by Dr. N. Veloz Goiticoa for the Ministerio de Fomento. The Annual Reports of the United States Consul at La Guaira, for 1916 and 1918. "Venezuela" by L. V. Dalton, 1918. The article on "Venezuela" in the Encyclopedia Britannica has been con

Before discussing the minerals of Venezuela we shall touch briefly on some of the predominant features of the topographical formation of the country, without, however, entering on a detailed description of the geologic aspects of the rocks and soil. The location of minerals is directly connected with geologic formations, and the findings of geologists should be consulted before we can take up the more intimate study of mineral ores for commercial and industrial purposes. It has been stated that

[The writer of this report is much indebted to Mr. W. T. S. Doyle, a graduate of Georgetown University, now manager of the Caribbean Petroleum Company in Venezuela.] The purpose of this report is to present a complete, yet concise, discussion of the petroleum and asphalt situation in Venezuela. The first part is devoted to petroleum and the second part to asphalt. Señor N. Veloz Goiticoa, a prominent Venezuelan, says, "There is scarcely a mining product known that can not be found in some part o

"In the primitive ages of commerce, article was exchanged for article without the use of money or credit. This was simple barter. As civilization progressed, a symbol of property—a common measure of value—was introduced to facilitate the exchange of property. This might be iron or any other article fixed by law or by consent, but it has generally been gold or silver. This certainly is a great advance beyond simple barter, but no greater than has been gained in modern times by proceeding from the

The importance of commercial travelers not only as representatives of business concerns, but also as types of a given nationality, has at last been realized and they are being treated as important factors not to be overlooked by corporations or the nation in the formulation of trade policies. They are the spokesmen of their countries and from their lips and by their actions a nation is sometimes judged not only from a business but also from a political standpoint. The importance of this factor w

In a report on foreign investments in Venezuela, the public debt, at least the external foreign debt, ought not, perhaps, be included as an investment. For two reasons, however, it deserves consideration, first, because of the sum involved and the manner in which the government meets this obligation; and secondly, as a barometer of other nationals' interests in Venezuela. The public debt of Venezuela is a topic important enough in itself to warrant consideration in a special report, hence we sha

Where there is population, industry and resources, there will be international trade. Venezuela is lacking in population and her industries are scarcely in the first stages of development, but she possesses natural resources which command a world market. The three essentials of commerce are: (a) transportation, (b) freedom of labor and exchange, (c) security; and at the root of all trade must be moral integrity. [21] [21] Ency. Brit., "Commerce." Until the beginning of the present administration

Lecture delivered by Dr. Pedro Itriago Chacín on July 30, 1920, in the School of Political Science of the University of Caracas, marking the end of the course of study carried on by the students of the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University in Caracas, Venezuela. Professor Sherwell: Students of the University of Georgetown: We are pleased that you have had the opportunity to experience the affection of the Venezuelan Government and people for your illustrious country, a country admir

[ From N. Y. Post Express, August 11, 1920. ] Georgetown University has a foreign service department in full operation, the worth of which this paper testified to when the project was first announced. Recently twenty-five students of this department were sent to South America to study trade conditions and they made their headquarters first at Caracas, Venezuela. Now note what has happened. These young people set up official and domestic housekeeping at the United States consulate; they went abou