Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/410

 402] FOKEIGN HISTORY. [1899.

Columbia. — In August the departments of Candinamarca and Santander were placed under martial law, because of an in- surrection. On October 24 two armed Government steamers destroyed seven insurgent vessels, and on October 30 the rebels claimed a victory near Barranquilla. By the middle of November, however, the rebels had been completely subdued, and on December 25 the port of Tumaco had been reopened.

Peru. — The Congress was opened on July 28. President Pierola, in his message, said that friendly relations existed between Peru and all nations. The President declared that the recent revolution was only a movement by armed bands for the pillage of defenceless towns. Some disturbance con- tinued for a while in the district of Cerro de Pasco, and the Government sent thither a small force. At the beginning of September the rebellion in the south was completely crushed, and declarations of adherence to Seflor Pierola were arriving from all parts. On September 8, Seflor Bomana, the President elect, was installed at Lima, and Dr. Manuel Galvez was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the new Cabinet.

British Guiana. — The award of the boundary tribunal at Paris in October gave unqualified satisfaction in the colony.

The reciprocity treaty concluded with the United States was received with indifference, for it was manifest that the treaty would create a deficit in the revenue of the colony and changes in the tariff. This deficit in revenue it was estimated would be from $160,000 to $170,000.

The gold industry showed signs of a revival, as security of title to claims in the gold fields was now assured.

Uruguay. — The revolt against Sefior Cuestas, the provisional President, was subdued in February by the Government forces,, and on March 1 the republic reassumed the constitutional government which had been interrupted for a year.

Sefior Cuestas was elected President for the term of four years by a decisive majority. The Chambers voted an amnesty for all political offenders. In July even the young assassin of President Borda in August, 1897, was acquitted on the ground that he had obeyed a patriotic impulsa

In July a convention was signed for the renewal of the treaty of commerce and navigation concluded between Great Britain and Uruguay in 1885.

The Chambers in November authorised in full the construc- tion of a new port at Monte Video, accepting plans prepared by M. Guerrard. An additional export duty of 1 per cent., and an increase of the import duty to 3 per cent., after January 1, was designed to create a fund of about $1,000,000 yearly, to be employed in payment of the cost of construction which was estimated at $12,500,000.

Venezuela. — A revolution under General Cipriano Castro suc- ceeded in overthrowing the Government of President Andrade in October. President Andrade made his escape to La Guayra.

VjOOQLC