Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/404

 396] FOBEIGN HISTOEY. [1899.

IV. MEXICO.

The Mexican Congress convened September 16. Senor Limantour, the Secretary of Finances, announced that the revenue collected during the fiscal year ended June 30, ex- ceeded $59,000,000. The disbursements were about $52,000,000, and the conversion of the debt had been successfully completed, amounting to $110,000,000. Under General Diaz the country had continued prosperity. The value of imports for the fiscal year amounted to $50,869,194, and of exports to $148,453,834. At the close of the year there were 8,307 miles of railway in operation and about 42,500 miles of telegraph line.

Military operations were necessary against the Maya Indians of Yucatan in September.

An earthquake, January 24, occurred in Mexico City which injured much property and created a great panic.

V. CENTRAL AMERICA.

Costa Rica. — Seiior Yglesias, the President of the republic, visited England in January, arriving from Paris on the 9th. His visit was non-political and private.

Honduras. — General Terencio Sierra was formally installed President of Honduras in February.

Nicaragua. — In February a revolution was attempted by General Pablo Eeyes who had been Governor of the Eastern coast, but was deposed by President Zelaya. On February 15 President Zelaya declared a state of siege and Eeyes, the leader of the rebels, having surrendered to the commanders of the United States gunboat Marietta and the British cruiser Intrepid ended the revolution somewhat prematurely. On April 18 the new governor at Bluefields, General Torres, announced that the customs duties paid in the Eeyes revolution must be paid again. On May 6 the United States Minister made a temporary arrange- ment with the Nicaraguan Government, by which the additional sums collected were turned over to the British Consul at Blue- fields and the matter was referred to the two Governments for permanent settlement, and on July 28 the sum of $9,000 collected by General Torres from the American merchants at Bluefields was demanded from the Nicaraguan Government by Mr. Merry, the United States Minister.

VI. WEST INDIES.

Cuba. — On January 1 at Havana the formal transfer of the island to the United States was made with impressive cere- mony. The last of the Spanish soldiers embarked on the transports for Spain on February 6.

General Gomez, the insurgent leader, accepted the terms offered by the United States, and assured President M'Kinley