That the number of pupils attending the primary schools of the federal
district and territories alone has increased 10,000 during the past year
is an indication of the successful educational policy of the Mexican
Government.
The Free Zone which extended along the northern frontier has been
abolished. The federal revenue for the fiscal year 1904–05 was
90,000,000 pesos, an increase of 3,000,000 over the previous year. A
glance at the message will show that the development and progress of
Mexico continue uninterrupted.
[Inclosure.]
Extracts from the President’s
message.
Yesterday evening the President of the Republic opened the third
period of sessions of the twenty-second congress of the Union, on
which occasion he delivered the following message:
Messrs. Deputies and Senators: Gratifying
as is ever the honor of appearing before you, it is doubly so when I
come, as on the present occasion in compliance with our fundamental
law, to relate to you facts which demonstrate the pacific and
constant development of public wealth, as well as the advancement of
the administrative branches confined to the executive power.
foreign relations.
Our foreign relations continue day by day to grow, but the closeness
of those which we cultivate with neighboring nations is naturnlly
most conspicuous.
In this connection I take pleasure in referring to the exceptional
courtesies of the Government of the United States of America on the
occasion of the regretted demise, at Washington, of our ambassador.
On that occasion not only were all the honors paid that were due to
the position cocupied by the deceased, according to international
usage, but, in addition, the American Government sought to give to
Mexico a particular mark of esteem by sending one of its warships to
convey to our shores the ambassador’s remains and desiring that a
section of marines who had acted as their escort should accompany
them to their last resting place in the soil of the fatherland. Such
marked courtesies could not fail to awake a sentiment of lively
gratitude and cordial good will in the heart of the Mexican
people.
Another lamentable event has also demonstrated the solidarity
resulting from our relations with other peoples. On the occasion of
the Guanajuato catastrophe our government received expressions of
sympathy and gifts in money for the victims either directly from
foreign chancelleries or through the instrumentality of the several
legations established at this capital. Moreover, some of the foreign
colonies residing in our country have given similar proofs of
generosity. These acts have served to strengthen the ties of
friendship uniting those governments and nations with the Mexican
nation and government.
The treaty signed during the second Pan-American conference, in
regard to pecuniary claims and damages, to which I referred in my
last message, was, after approval by the Senate, duly
promulgated.
A convention signed during the course of the same conference for the
exchange of publications among the governments of America was also
promulgated after approval by the Senate and ratification by the
executive.
In the month of August last the third Latin-American Scientific
Congress was held at Rio de Janeiro, and the Government of Mexico
was invited to send its delegates thereto. Though there was not
sufficient time to send a regular delegation, the executive,
desiring to show its appreciation of the courteous invitation of the
Brazilian Government, took measures to be represented at that
interesting assembly by our chargé d’affaires ad interim at Buenos
Aires.
