Although only twenty-seven years of age, Dr. Ávila has already attained some celebrity in his own country, and has received the degree of Doctor of the Faculty of Jurisprudence, a title which was conferred upon him by the National University of Salvador. In 1907 one of Dr. Ávila's most notable achievements was the composition of a "paper" which he read before the Tribunal of Examination, this being a learned thesis upon the subject of "The Duel" ("El Duelo"), consisting of 100 pages, and pronounced by literary critics as about the most clever and most convincing essay which had been written upon the subject.
Previous to entering upon his profession as an advocate, Dr. Ávila served as a Justice of the Peace for one year in the Capital of Salvador, being later on appointed Judge of the First Instance. He occupied a similar position in the Civil and Criminal Courts of Santa Tecla (New San Salvador), and held that post for two years. Dr. Ávila had also for some time been advocate-in-chief for the Banco Salvadoréno, of Salvador, and he represented legally various other reputable houses of commerce. Dr. Ávila holds the position of Consul-General of the Republic of Salvador for Great Britain and Ireland, and has taken convenient offices at 8, Union Court, Old Broad Street, London, E.C.
Señor Santiago Perez Triana, who has for some time been a resident in London, entered the service of the Salvadorean Government as Secretary of the Legation in 1900, under Dr. Zaldívar, and accompanied him to the Spanish-American Congress which met in Madrid in December of that year. Señor Perez Triana's capacity was that of second delegate of Salvador, Dr. Zaldívar being chief of the Mission, the third Attaché, who occupied a similar position to that of Señor Perez Triana, being Señor M. Rodriguez. Subsequently Señor Perez Triana was appointed Secretary of the Legation of Salvador in Spain. Since 1901, when he went to the last-named country to reside, he occupied the dual position of Chargé d'Affaires both in Madrid and in London; and he still occupies a similar position in the latter city, but not in Spain. In 1907 Señor Perez Triana was appointed Delegate to the Hague Conference for Salvador, jointly with Mr. P. J. Matheu. He is a quite remarkable orator and a man of great culture, speaking English with complete accuracy and writing it with equal facility.
Dr. Artúro Ramón Ávila;
Consul-General for the Republic of Salvador to Great Britain. Appointed May, 1911.
In connection with the Coronation of Their Majesties King George and Queen Mary, in the month of June last, the Salvadorean Government sent to London an Extraordinary Mission to represent the Republic, selecting for the purpose Señor J. Miguel Dueñas who by birth and education was well fitted to fill so important a position. Señor Dueñas was born in the city of San Salvador on August 28, 1871, and is a son of an ex-President of Salvador, Dr. Francisco Dueñas, and Donna Térésa Dardano. After a brilliant college career, pursued both in his own country, in the United States, and in Europe, Señor Dueñas returned in 1895 to Salvador, where he was soon afterwards elected by popular vote as Deputy to the National Congress of the Republic. He also became an active member of the Municipal Council, and is the Founder and President of the Salvador Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in Salvador. He retains his position as Secretary of State for the Department of Agriculture, which, as mentioned previously in this volume, was brought into existence upon the initiative of the present President of the Republic, Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo, this being one of his first official acts after assuming the Presidential chair, in the month of March last. Accompanying Señor Dueñas was his wife, Señora Donna Maria Eugénia Palomo.
The new Minister of Salvador in Spain and Italy, with residence at Madrid, is Dr. don J. Gustavo Guerrero, who was for many years Consul-General for Salvador at Genoa, and acted as First Secretary of the Special Diplomatic Mission of Salvador to the Court of St. James in connection with the Coronation of King George V. He is one of the several young men of great promise in Salvador, and is destined to go far. He is, moreover, a distinguished advocate, having taken high degrees at the Universities of San Salvador and Guatemala City. He has acted as Deputy Governor at the first-named Capital, as well as Consul at Burdeos, Consul at Genoa, Secretary of Legation at Washington, and Chargé d'Affaires at Rome and Madrid.
In the month of May last (1911) Señor don Nicolás Leiva was appointed Consul for Salvador at Liverpool, which port carries on a fair amount of trade with the Republic.