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<br />nation has suffered the strain of two world wars within the first half of the <br />twentieth century and come out strong. <br />Sweden is a very old country with an area of 173.000 square miles and <br />a population of about 7 million 1 a density of 42 to the square mile. It <br />is rich in some resources such as iron ore, forests. and water power, but <br />lacks roal and petroleum. It has a highly developed technology and an <br />educational system with high standards at all levels. Sweden has to en- <br />gage in international trade because even a highly developed agricultural <br />technology does not produce all the food necessary to sustain the people. <br />By far the greater part of Sweden's industry and commerce is in the hands <br />of private enterprise. The sectors in which public ownership dominates <br />are the railway system and public utilities. The state also owns a large <br />proportion of three basic resources: iron mines, forests, and water power. <br />Sweden has a stable population. It has pioneered in birth control educa- <br />tion. It has been at peare for well-nigh 150 years. It has a high standard <br />of living, one of the few which compare with that of the United States. <br />Economic activity rests on three pillars: strong government participation, <br />private enterprise, and strong co-operative institutions. Sweden has one <br />of the longest life expectancies and the lowest infant and maternal mor- <br />tality rates in the world. <br />:Mexico is an old country in its Indian heritage, newer in its orientation <br />to the modern world. The population is 31,426,000, with a density of <br />41 to the square mile, It formerly had a high birth rate and death rate. <br />Public health measures have decreased the death rate to 14 while the <br />birth rate is 46 per thousand. This gives a very high national annual <br />increase of 3.2 per cent. It is a country where great masses of the people <br />were exploited for centuries and still have a low standard of living. Re- <br />cently Mexico has made a large investment in fundamental education <br />(reading, writing, and arithmetic) as well as higher education. Education <br />and technology are making the most of limited agricultural land, through <br />irrigation and scientific agriculture. A very significant increase in the <br />supply of food has resulted. Health facilities are expanding. Mexico has <br />been torn by much internal strife and has undergone many economic <br />upheavals. Land reforms have taken place over the years. Development <br />of resources has gradually come under the control of the government; <br />foreign oil company holdings have been expropriated. Mex~co is rich in <br />metals of many different kinds. <br />Puerto Rico, discovered by Columbus on his second visit to the new <br />world, remained under Spanish rule from 1493 to 1898. Despite centuries <br />of exploitation, the island has rich agricultural land, though limited in <br />amount. The mountains furnish streams for water power and irrigation. <br />The principal problems in the island ha,'e been and still are a high popula- <br />tion density and limited educational opportunities. Chancellor Benitez of <br /> <br />l <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />3 <br />