The Custom House Revenue on import duties for 1903 amounted to
$37,191,857, and in 1913 to $98,978,745.
When it is remembered that the Argentine Republic covers an area of
about one-third of the United States and that up to the present time
not nearly one-fifth of its productive soil has been placed under
cultivation, the figures relating to its production will leave little
doubt that the world, in the not distant future, will find in that
favored land one of the main sources of its food supply. But it is not
alone in the development of the agricultural and pastoral industries
that the great advance of the Republic is to be noted. In every form of
national activity the forward march of the Argentine Republic has made
itself felt far beyond its own borders; while from a purely commercial
point of view it has become a centre of universal interest and has added
materially to the enrichment of the commerce of many of the countries of
Europe.
[Illustration: ONE OF THE RECEPTION ROOMS OF THE ARGENTINE PAVILION AT
THE PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION]
[Illustration: ANOTHER INTERIOR VIEW OF THE ARGENTINE PAVILION AT THE
PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION WHERE THE ARTISTIC RICHNESS OF THE MURAL
DECORATIONS CAN BE APPRECIATED]
In legislation there have been many notable advances during the past
twenty years and, in some cases, examples worthy of being followed by
older communities. Amongst the most important legislative measures,
those dealing with immigration, colonization, electoral reform, land
settlement, education, labor, animal and sanitary laws, may be
singled out for special mention. The immigration laws have been framed,
since their inception, with a view to inviting foreigners to share in
the development and enjoyment of the national wealth. No restrictions
are imposed upon the entry of immigrants other than those which have for
their object the exclusion of the criminal classes or persons who are
physically or mentally unsound. Not only can the immigrant acquire rich
government land on conditions unequalled in other new countries, but
provision is also made for the supply of the necessary funds to furnish
the colonist with implements and other equipment to enable him to reap
an ample reward for his labors. The naturalization laws impose no
difficulties in the acquisition of citizenship, although there is
absolute freedom on the part of the alien resident to hold land and
property and to enjoy all the privileges conferred upon inborn citizens,
except that of voting at Congressional or Presidential elections. Even
certain public positions may be held by foreigners without
naturalization. In electoral matters, the law recently passed to
enforce compulsory voting at elections has already produced excellent
results and has succeeded in removing attempts at coercion and the
exercise of undue influence in the return of candidates for elective
offices; and most of these legislative reforms have been effected during
the past twenty years.
Although not precisely within the period under review, the enactment of
the Conversion Law of 1891 has had such far-reaching effects upon the
financial situation and general stability of the Republic that it should
not be omitted from a record of national legislation dating from even
four years later. Prior to the passage of that law, violent fluctuations
in the premium of gold, induced by speculation, led to so much
disturbance of commerce as to render it necessary to place the national
currency on a more substantial basis. With that object in view an
average was taken and the value of paper currency was fixed by the law
at 44 per cent of the value of gold, in other words, making $227.27,
currency, equal to $100 gold. The law further provided for the
establishment of a Conversion Fund, which was to be formed by the
appropriation of certain sources of revenue and to be added to by annual
increments until it reached a total of $30,000,000 gold, which with the
gold reserves then existing and to be accumulated were to be employed
exclusively for the public exchange of gold and paper at the rate fixed.
As shown in the figures relating to gold reserves, the accumulation of
gold held in the Caja de Conversion for the purposes of the law, at
December 31, 1913, amounted to $233,197,727, representing upwards to 60
per cent of the entire national currency in circulation, a proportion
not exceeded by any other country of the world; and with the resumption
of exports upon a normal scale, which will constantly bring more gold to
the Republic, the relation of gold reserves to currency issues will, in
a comparatively short time, be such as to justify the creation of a
definite and exclusive gold standard as the monetary system of the
Republic.
[Illustration: STATUE OF GENERAL SAN MARTIN, BUENOS AIRES]
[Illustration: ONE OF THE PALATIAL RESIDENCES IN BUENOS AIRES]
The Argentine Republic has achieved many triumphs in diplomacy and many
legitimately claim to have made new international law for all the
countries of the American continent. One of the most important steps yet
taken in this direction was the formulation, in 1902, of the now
universally accepted doctrine establishing the principle that
contractual debts by Sovereign States to foreign private subjects, or
citizens, should not be collected by the employment of armed forces.
This doctrine was propounded by the then Argentine Minister of Foreign
Affairs in a Note addressed to the United States Government as the
result of the occupation, at that time, of the territorial waters of an
independent state by the warships of some of the European Powers, for
the avowed purpose of compelling payment to their subject of claims for
damages and for the fulfilment of the service of a national debt due to
foreign creditors and then in default. This Note aroused world-wide
attention and the subject was dealt with diplomatically by many of
the countries of Europe which had commercial relations with the
Latin-American Republics. It formed the subject of frequent discussion
at various Pan-American Congresses, and was particularly favored in the
United States, where, subject to certain slight modifications, it was
regarded as a logical pendant to the Monroe Doctrine. At the Second
International Peace Conference at the Hague, in 1907, the Doctrine was
submitted for the approval of the Conference by the American Delegation
with slight modifications and was accepted, without dissent, by the
Delegates of all the countries represented. It is not necessary here to
enter into a discussion of the merits or importance of this Argentine
doctrine. Suffice it to add, however, that the negation of its main
purpose would be to endanger the existence of the Monroe Doctrine by
shattering the principal object with which that policy was conceived and
established.
Another great international movement in which the Argentine Republic
assumed a leading part and which is likely to have far-reaching effects
in advancing the friendly relations of the United States with the sister
American Republics, was the recent mediation of the "A. B. C." Powers
(Argentine, Brazil and Chile). The events of that particular time are
too fresh in the memory of the American public to need description of
detail. It is sufficient to say that the mediation referred to averted a
war which would probably have involved the sacrifice of countless lives
and of countless millions. But the initiation of the policy of mediation
entered into on that occasion has even more importance than that which
attaches to it as having prevented a great and unnecessary war. It has
served, firstly, to show that the great advance made by the leading
South American Republics is not merely an advance made for selfish
purposes, but for the benefit of the whole of the Latin nations of the
American continent. The great statesmen of those countries, whilst
recognizing the occasionally intemperate political acts which take place
in some of the lesser Republics, have placed a cloak of protection
around the weaker sisters of their countries to prevent attacks upon
their national independence and sovereignty. By their offer of mediation
in the critical situation which had then arisen on this continent, they
also gave birth to a policy which, independently of its humane aspect,
is calculated to secure the real objects of legitimate Pan-Americanism.
The United States has invariably exhibited a spirit of justice and of
generosity in all its relations with the other American Republics, and
the "A. B. C." mediation has not only strengthened this wise policy on
the part of the United States, but has demonstrated the capacity and the
influence, without actual intervention, of the most important Latin
Republics to save the less advanced countries from a sacrifice of their
national independence.
Still another step of diplomatic importance has recently been taken by
the Argentine Ambassador at Washington by a submission of a lengthy
resolution to the governing body of the Pan-American Union (consisting
of the Secretary of State of the United States and the Ambassadors and
Ministers of the other twenty American Republics) with a view to
providing means for the restriction of hostilities by belligerents in
neutral waters. This course was adopted in consequence of the hardships
and difficulties imposed on the South American Republics and on other
neutral countries through the present war in Europe and through the
prevailing indefinite character of the international rules and of
international law in the definition of the respective rights of neutrals
and belligerents. Whilst it would be difficult to assume that any
reforms will be effected during the continuance of the present war in
Europe or immediately thereafter, it is reasonable to suppose that the
substantive portions of the Argentine Ambassador's resolution will
influence succeeding international Conferences to so regulate these
vital matters as to confine naval operations within limits which, in
future wars, will not place so heavy a burden upon the coastal and
oversea trade of neutral countries.
In its relations with the different countries of the world the Republic
enjoys the most friendly intercourse and shares the privileges accorded
to the great Powers in international commercial treaties. It has never
failed to fulfil its national obligations either at home or abroad; it
has no ambitions for territorial expansion and desires only to maintain
internal and external peace in order to extend the country's material
prosperity and the welfare of its inhabitants.