Venezuela, an economic report / Presented by students of the School of Foreign Service, as an aid to the foreign trade of the United States

by Georgetown University. School of Foreign Service

El Universal se complace en presentar su salutación de bienvenida a los estudiantes norteamericanos, cuya visita a Caracas contribuirá a hacer más sólidos y eficaces los lazos intelectuales que unen a Venezuela con la gran patria de Washington y a establecer un más activo intercambio de ideas entre las juventudes estudiantiles de ambos países.

Dr. Sherwell arrives delighted with the situation which he met in Venezuela—What most impressed him was the high character of the Government and its strict devotion to the accomplishment of its duty, highways, railroads, monetary system, etc.—Finds also that the people "is one of the best types of humanity that exists in the world."—All these topics will be treated in the theses which the students of the university of Georgetown will present in their next examinations to obtain their degrees.

[From La Prensa, New York, August, 26, 1920.]

Washington, August 25th.—Dr. William A. Sherwell, Professor of Spanish in the University of Georgetown and Expert Adviser in the High Interamerican Commission, who has just returned from Venezuela with the group of 18 students from the School of Foreign Service of the University, has come from Venezuela impressed with the high class of the Government employees which that country has, as well as with its business men, where he was warmly welcomed by the same people, whom he characterizes as "one of the best types of humanity which exists in the world." The Professor was in charge of the students who are preparing to enter the field of foreign trade, several of whom, he says, have received offers from commercial houses, notwithstanding which they will continue in their University studies until next June. Each student has prepared an account or report of some one of the various phases of industry—economic, industrial or commercial, of Venezuela. The coffee and sugar industries, the petroleum exportation, and the operation of the mines, the banking and monetary system, immigration laws, education, public debt, are some of the topics which the students will treat of in their reports.

Dr. Sherwell spoke of the great development which has taken place in Venezuela, of the great extension of railroad work, which in many parts crosses the mountains, and of the splendid automobile roads already constructed and those planned for construction. In Venezuela there are many automobiles, but orders will continue. Tractor machines are being introduced in the farming sections and the cattle industry is taking on a new impulse. New models are being introduced, especially from the United States, and industry in the large is well advanced. There is opportunity for further development of the cattle industry, according to Dr. Sherwell, since there exist several districts not yet utilized for this purpose.

Venezuela is the South American country nearest to the United States, and the opportunity exists for a more extensive commerce between the two countries. And yet, says Dr. Sherwell, there is no large passenger and freight service between the two nations. He thinks that it is necessary to remedy this need.

In going to Venezuela as the official representative of the High Interamerican Commission and instructor of the students, the Doctor was in touch with General Juan Vicente Gómez, President-Elect, the members of the Cabinet and other prominent officials. The Minister of Public Education gave a dinner in San Juan to the Sherwell party, General Gómez and the President being present. One of the features of the visit consisted of a trip in automobiles across the country in four days in which they were able to inspect the places of industrial and historical interest. They visited the sugar cane and coffee plantations; Valencia, the most beautiful of tropical cities; La Victoria, famous in history through having been the place where at the beginning of the last century the Spanish forces were defeated by the Independents; and the old farm of San Mateo, belonging to Bolívar, where Captain Ricaurte, seeing that he was not able to hold the hill which he was defending much longer, sent his men to the plain, and set fire to the park of artillery when the Spanish arrived, all being blown up with the explosion.

Dr. Roman Cardenas, Minister of the Interior and President of the High Interamerican Commission, is a man—says Dr. Sherwell—for whom he entertains the highest regard. He conferred with all the members of the Cabinet, with some of whom he was in close contact, and he finds that they, as well as the employees in the Government offices, are competent and are steadfastly devoted to their work, without mingling in politics. Dr. Sherwell spoke also of the wonderful painters that Venezuela had produced, mentioning Señor Tito Salas, one of the great painters of the day. There are in Venezuela many poets and writers of high merit.

The money system, similar to the French, is functioning efficiently. There is gold in abundance, says Dr. Sherwell; and during the war, when most countries suspended payment, Venezuela continued paying its debts, observing strict economy, and now has on deposit in the banks a large quantity of gold.