TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 6

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

Presidents of South American Republics come to grief so regularly when they risk a second successive term of office that the triumph of General Gomez, President of Venezuela, who celebrated his "silver jubilee" yesterday, can onlv be described as a political marvel (says "The Times"). Since December 19, 1908, when a coup d'etat placed him at the head of the State, he has usually been either President or President-elect, and has always remained Commander-in-Chief of the Army. To this last circumstance, no doubt, he owes his success in mastering, early revolts and conspiracies against his rule. But it would be unfair to ascribe his success solely to his military gifts. Admittedly there is little democratic freedom in Venezuela, but the President's policy of decentralisation with frequent conferences of experts is creating what most South American dictatorships have lacked —a competent body of administrators and men of affairs. His country, till lately one of the most primitive of the LatinAmerican States, has now 0000 miles of l good roads; a remarkable new port is being completed at Turiamo; and education is making great strides. But perhaps the most signal triumphs of General Gomez's policy have been financial. When he first took office his predecessor—then absent on holiday in Europehad quarrelled with almost every creditor nation, had repudiated part of the foreign debt, and had justified a contemporary description of the financial situation of Venezuela as "extremely complicated and discreditable." The year 1930, the centenary of Simon Bolivar, "saw the payment of the last dollar of the foreign debt. ' The public works, which are the President's pride and among his chief titles to the gratitude of his countrymen, have been financed out of revenue. These are great achievements, and even the sternest British democrats will be tempted to congratulate (and envy) General Gomez when they learn that his Government, alone in South America and possibly in the world, owes no money to the United States.