Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1132

 1080 MEXICO

Money, Weights, and Measures.

By an executive decree of November 13, 1918, the monetary unit is the gold peso or dollar, the legal 'value of which has been fixed at - 75 gramme of pure gold. There are 20-peso (called aztecaa), 10-peso, and 5-peso gold coins, '900 fine and '100 copper, weighing respectively 16;-:, 8 - 333J> 4 and 4 166§ grammes. In 1919 American gold coin was decreed to be legal tendei at the fixed rate of 1 dollar for 2 Mexican gold pesos. An executive decree of October 27, 1919, provides for the, issue of new silver and copper coins. The silver coins are in denominations of 1-peso, 50 and 20 centavos, with a fineness of 720 milligrams of silver and 280 of copper. The copper coins are to be in denominations of 10 centavos, weigh 12 grams, and have a composition of 95 per cent, copper, 2 - 5 per cent tin, and 2*5 per cent. zinc. These coins are restricted legal tender up to 20 pesos for the silver coins and 2 pesos for the copper coins. Bronze coins are 2- and 1-cen- tavo pieces, 95 parts eopper, 4 tin, and 1 zinc. There are 5-centavo nickel coins. In July, 1920, the coinage of Mexican money in the Republic con- sisted of 1,800,000 gold pesos, 3,730,000 silver pesos, and 50,000 pesos in copper coins, or a total of 5,580,000 pesos. The value of the gold peso or dollar in peace time was 24*58 pence.

An enormous quantity of paper money was in circulation, but it has been gradually withdrawn, and on October 1, 1920,106,787,862 pesos remained in circulation.

The weights and measures ol the metric system were introduced in 1 884 and their use is enforced by law of June 19, 1895, though the old Spanish measures are still in use. The old weights and measures were : — Weight. 1 libra = "46 kilogramme = 1"014 lb. avoirdupois.

1 arroba = 25 libras = 25 "357 lb. avoirdupois. For gold and silver. 1 marco = £ libra = 4,608 granos.

1 ochava = 6 tomines.

1 tomin = 12 granos.

20 granos = 1 French gramme. Length. 1 vara = 0-837 metre = 2 ft. 8^ English in.

1 legua comun = 6, 666f varas.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. Of Mexico in Great Britain. Consul. — Julio Pani.

There are Consular representatives at Barrow-in-Furness, Bininngh.un. Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Dublin, Falmouth, Glasgow, Great Orinisli\. Liverpool, Manchester,(Maryport, Newcastle, Southampton.

2. Of Great Britain in Mexico. Charge" des Archives. — H. Cummins, 0. B.E. Acting Consul- General. — N. King.

There are Consular representatives at Colima, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Vera Cruz, and other towns.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Mexico-

1. Official Publications. The publications issued by the various departments of government.

IjesEtatsUnisMexicains: LeursRessources.&c. ParR.de Zayas Enriquez. Mexico, 1899.

Memoria del Secretario del despacho de Foraento, &c. Annual. Mexico.

Mexico : Its Social Evolution. By various writers. 3 vols. Mexico, 1900-04.

Mexico: A Geographical Sketch. Bureau of American Republics. Washington, 1904.

Foreign Office Reports, Annual Series and Miscellaneous Series. London.

Division Territorial de los Estados Unidos Mexw-anos (deals with «aeh State). Mexico, 1913.