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

"Monroe, when he defined in his celebrated doctrine our rights to independence and formulated the prohibition to Europeans against colonizing in the new world, sanctioned in the most emphatic manner the highest achievement of American rights. "America for Americans,"—without any spurious interpretation such as some have given to it,—is the condensation of the efforts of the champions of the freedom of America, of this, our America, which has known how to defend its right amid the vibrations of its tempestuous seas! Bolívar, breaking the chains of slavery with an invincible sword, and Monroe, establishing a new concept of right, understand each other. Subsequently the Monroe doctrine was our shield in many transcendental events of our international life. It was the formidable weapon opposing the predatory ambition of England in 1895, when Grover Cleveland valiantly forced her to submit to arbitration her pretensions to the Venezuelan territory near the border of British Guiana. It was also our support in the incident brought about by Count Magliano, when he sought to obtain pressure from his own government, as well as from Germany, France and Belgium, on Venezuela. As for the coalition between Italy, England and Germany, those sorrowful days are not far distant, when our territory saw itself so seriously threatened, until finally the opposing parties agreed to submit their contention to the Supreme Tribunal of the Hague."

In answer to the stirring words of Dr. Itriago Chacín and Mr. La-Riva Vale, your representative expressed genuine hope in the recovery and substantial progress of the principles of international law based, more than ever, squarely upon a thoroughly enlightened and responsive public opinion. Democracy would, in the course of time, and perhaps in a surprisingly reasonable brief time, come to contain a genuine and significant meaning and guarantee of world peace. Perhaps at present we are passing through reactions natural and inevitable after the stupendous conflict from which we have just emerged, but those who are able to measure the progress of culture on a larger scale than the months and years, are not without great hope and substantial confidence. He closed his remarks with the expression of sincere thanks for the generous cooperation and sincere cordiality of the authorities and students alike of the professional and academic world of Caracas.

On August 7th a reception was given at the School of Political Sciences at which Dr. José Santiago Rodríguez, Director of the School, who possesses a wide acquaintance with commercial and economic conditions in the United States by reason of a careful survey of them made in the interest of his Government, eloquently expressed the hope of closer relations between the two countries, not merely with reference to commerce and investment, but between the youth of both lands and on as profoundly spiritual plan as possible.

Enthusiastic assurances of the sentiments of cordial solidarity towards North America animating the sentiments of Venezuela was voiced by a student of the School of Political Science, Don Aníbal Villasmil Gabaldón. Again it was the pleasant duty of your representative to express the appreciation of the students for all the courtesies and sincere manifestations of friendship showered upon them, and to renew the expression of confidence that the work of the University of Caracas would go far in the firm and enduring upbuilding of an enlightened public opinion, which would be regarded by the students of North America as of the greatest service to mankind.

On Saturday, July 31st, two of our students left Caracas for the United States. On Tuesday, August 3rd, six more students left, and on Monday, August 9th, the rest of the students and your representative embarked for New York. The steamer stopped for thirty-six hours at Puerto Cabello, for some hours at Curazao, and for twenty-four hours at San Juan de Puerto Rico. On Friday, August 20th, we landed in New York, and thus came to an end the first university field work in economics directed towards the expansion of American foreign trade.

During our stay in Caracas, the physical welfare of the students was not neglected and consequently there were no serious cases of illness. The change of food occasioned some minor ailments but no alarming results occurred. All the members of the party were comfortably lodged, and in all respects well taken care of by orders of the Minister of Public Instruction. They had occasion also to engage in sports, notably in baseball. Three public games were played, the first with the students of the School of San Francisco de Sales, the second with the American commercial employees of Caracas, and the third with the students of the College of San Francisco de Sales, in which we won a loving cup offered by the Minister of Public Instruction. Tennis was frequently enjoyed and excursions to the beautiful mountain, Ávila, were also organized.

Every opportunity was offered our students to mingle socially with the best families of Caracas. Thus, they had not only the means to practise Spanish, but also a rare opportunity to enjoy intimate contact with the character of the Venezuelan people, whose constant kindness and genuine courtesy made a deep and lasting impression on the Georgetown boys.

Among the persons entitled to our gratitude, besides those already mentioned, are Dr. Vicente Lecuna, a senator of the country and the President of the Banco de Venezuela, a man universally respected by reason of his high moral character, who was instrumental in obtaining for us valuable information and who showed himself tireless in his efforts to help our students at every turn and on any subject; Dr. Víctor V. Maldonado, the Director of the Industrial Exhibition; Mr. Atilano Carnevali, President of the Federation of Students, and all the members of the Federation; the Reverend Evaristo Ipiñázar, S. J., Rector of the Seminary; Monsignor Nicolás E. Navarro, Apostolic Prothonotary, and all the dignitaries of the Church, among whom special mention is respectfully made of Monsignor Rincón González, the Archbishop of Venezuela, and His Excellency, Monsignor Marchetti, the Papal Nuncio. Dr. Manuel C. Correa of the Department of Public Instruction, the Director of the Normal School and the faculties of the University and of the different institutions of learning in Caracas also deserve our grateful remembrances.

The Venezuelan press was extremely kind to us in its remarks. An expression of sincere thanks is due to El Nuevo Diario, El Impartial, El Universal, Religión, Actualidades, Billiken and other publications.

As a last honor, your representative was decorated with the medal of "Public Instruction" by the Executive of Venezuela, according to a decree of July 27, 1920, published in the Official Gazette of the country on Friday, August 13, of the same year, No. 14,138. In his answer to the communication of the Minister of Public Instruction notifying him of this honor, your representative made it clear that this recognition is very superior to his personal attainments and is to be considered an honor conferred on the School of Foreign Service rather than on himself.[1]