D 570 .8 .t16 G8 Copy 1 THE GUATEMALAN SPECIACHISSION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO EXPRESS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THE GRATITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA FOR THE SERVICE RENDERED TO HU MANITY IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY 35 CEREMONIES AT WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 21 1919 WASHINGTON 1919 It \W ^1 THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TOiEXPRESS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THE GRATITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA FOR THE SERVICE RENDERED TO HU- MANITY IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY i CEREMONIES AT WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 21 1919 WASHINGTON 1919 r^. •! ifm FEU t« 1920 MEMBERS OF THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL, Special Representative of the Executive of the Republic of Guatemala. THE HONORABLE MANUEL MA. GIRON, Special Representative of the Legislature of the Republic of Guatemala. THE HONORABLE JOSE SERRANO MUNOZ, Special Representative of the Judiciary of the Republic of Guatemala. (3) LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION DECREE OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA AND MINUTE ADOPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA Addresses delivered by — THE HONORABLE ROBERT LANSING Secretary of State of the United States THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL Chairman of the Guatemalan Special Mission THE HONORABLE JOSE SERRANO MUNOZ Special Representative of the Judiciary of the Republic of Guatemala NOVEMBER 21, 1919 (5) LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION The White House, Washington, 3 December, 1919. Gentlemen of the Mission : It has been a source of xQvy real gratification to me to learn of the generous mission which has brought you to Washington, and I deeply regret that it has not been possible for me to greet you in person. I wish you to be assured, however, of my deep appreciation of the honor done me by the Assembly of Guatemala, especially be- cause of the unusual fact that the Executive, Legislative and Judi- ciary of Guatemala, in separate resolutions, expressed such warm and friendly sentiments. May I ask you to say to the President, as well as to the Members of the National Assembly and of the Judi- ciary how greatly their greetings have cheered me and have strength- ened the purposes for which we are all striving? Cordially and sincerely yours. AVooDROw Wilson. Honorable Maximo Soto Hall. Honorable Manuel Ma. Giron. Honorable Jose Serrano Munoz. 151703—19 2 (7) [Translation.] DECREE NO. 1017. ©Iff BjfgtBlattt!? AfiBrmblg of tt|f S^publtr of O^uat^mala. Whereas: The entrance of the United States of America into the World War, in the cause of the sacred rights of Humanity, in the defence of civiHzation and for the triumph of Right and Justice, is an event of transcendent magnitude which decided the issue of the gigantic struggle, bringing victory to the Allied armies, thanks to the valor and strength of the mighty contingents brought into the lists by the Great Republic of America which at all times under the aegis of its power and greatness has been and is now the leader of Democracy and faithful guardian of the destinies of the New Con- tinent; Whereas: The decisive step, to which in their patriotism the Ameri- can people fully responded, was due to the wise and farseeing policy followed by the President of the Union, Woodrow Wilson, who, with the confidence of genius and the enthusiasm of a seer, pointed out to his country the necessity of, and glory in, the war, took a befitting part in its conduct, and when the time came, laid the foundations of Peace by his lofty and brilliant performance in the international agreements that culminated in the Treaty of Versailles, including the League of Nations, that immortal code which guarantees the future sway of Peace and Right over the world ; (9) Whereas: So great and humanitarian an act, which will stand as an object lesson for centuries, has won for the illustrious President Wilson the world's admiration and gratitude as the benefactor of mankind and defender of the sacred eternal principles on which the relations of men and States with one another must rest: Therefore The National Legislative Assembly Decrees : Article 1. The Republic of Guatemala places on record a vote of everlasting acknowledgment and gratitude to the President' of the United States of America, Woodrow Wilson, for his eminently patriotic and humanitarian attitude in the World War, which is in keeping with the highest ideals of the three Americas. Article 2. A Commission of representatives of the Assembly will place this decree in the hands of President Wilson. Let it pass to the Executive to be published and put into effect. Given at the Palace of the Legislative Power, at Guatemala, the second day of October, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. Arturo Ubicg, President. Manuel Ma. Giron, B. Alvarado T., Secretary. Secretary. Palace of the Executive Power, Guatemala, October 2, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. Let it be published and put into effect. Manuel Estrada C. G. Aguirre, Secretary of State for the Department of Finance and Public Credit, hi charge of the Department of Foreign Relations. (10) TEXT OF MINUTE ADOPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF GUATEMALA [Translation.] The Stipreme Court of Justice Representing the Judicial Power of the Republic of Guatemala, sharing the lofty sentiments which moved the Legislative Assembly to decree an enthusiastic manifes- tation in honor of the fruitful and transcendent efforts put forth in the Cause of Justice, Liberty and Democracy by the great States- man, the Most Excellent, the President of the United States of America, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, whose action during the World War for Peace and the defense and support of the rights of Mankind, has aroused the admiration and applause of the most civilized na- tions of the Earth, Resolves : to appoint Licentiate Don Jose Serrano Muiioz, of the said Supreme Court of Justice, to lay before His Ex- cellency. Mr. President Wilson, in conjunction with the Commission which represents the Legislative Power, the heartfelt congratula- tions and homage of sincere gratitude of the Judicial Power of Guatemala, and also the wishes it makes for the ever growing pros- perity of the Great American Republic and its most deserving Chief Magistrate. Given at Guatemala, on this fifteenth day of the month of October, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. Sealed with the Great Seal of the Judiciary Power and signed by the President and the Secretary of the Supreme Court of Justice. [Signed] A. Batres Jauregui, President. [Signed] Jose Salazar Z., Secretary. (11) ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL CHAIRMAN OF THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION IN PRESENTING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF GUATEMALA AND THE SPECIAL MINUTE OF THE SUPREME COURT, EXPRESSING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THE GRATITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA FOR THE SERVICE RENDERED TO HUMANITY IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECU- TION OF THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY [Delivered at the Department of State, Washington, November 21, 1919.] [Translation.] Your Excellency: It is a great honor to me to address Your Excellency on behalf of the three highest powers of the Republic of Guatemala, while deeply regretting that the undermining of the precious health of His Ex- cellency Dr. Woodrow Wilson, President of the Republic, prevents us from delivering into his hands the decree issued by the national legislative assembly, which decree the representative of that august body will have the honor to deposit in your hands. The truly admirable procedure of the great republic of the north in the recent w^orld events has won for it the admiration and grati- tude of all the civilized peoples of the earth, both owing to the promptness with wdiich it intervened in the great tragedy and owing to its action, which will produce such beneficent and important results in the future destinies of mankind. Guatemala could not remain indifferent in view of facts of such magnitude, and its national representative body performed a duty of strict justice by issuing a decree in honor of His Excellency Dr. Woodrow Wilson, who, with the firm and heroic support of all his fellow citizens, brought about, in the hour of greatest peril, the tri- umph of democracy threatened with death. (13) In thus acting, the national assembly did nothing more than faith- fully express the feelings of enthusiastic and profound sympathy to- ward the government and people of the United States of America which animate the government and people of Guatemala. On his part His Excellency the President of the Republic, in order to lend greater prominence to this manifestation of confraternity and as a fresh evidence of the firm and cordial friendship on which all his acts are based, ordered that the three powers constituting the supreme government of the country should be represented on the com- mission bearing this significant document. AVhile performing the grateful mission intrusted to us as repre- sentatives of those powers, and particularly in the name of His Ex- cellency Dr. Manuel Estrada Cabrera, we hereby express our earnest wishes for the early and complete recovery of His Excellency Dr. Woodrow Wilson, whose cherished health so greatl}^ concerns all nations, and for the happiness and prosperity of the great North American nation. And I, as representative of the executive power, have the honor to state to Your Excellency that you may consider that, in shaking my hand, you are shaking the hand of His Excellency Dr. Manuel Estrada Cabrera himself, and that you receive therewith testimonials of the loyal, sincere, and frank friendship which inspire the President of Guatemala toward the government and people of the United States of America. (14) ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE JOSE SERRANO MUNOZ SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JUDICIARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA IN PRESENTING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE MINUTE ADOPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF GUATEMALA [Translation.! Most Excellent Mr. Secretary : It is gratifying to me to place in the hands of Your Excellency the minute adopted by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Guatemala in honor of His Excellency, Dr. Woodrow Wilson on account of his brilliant action during the World War in behalf of Peace and of the defence and support of the rights of humanity. Your Excellency will kindly accept the warm congratulations and the sincere gratitude of the Judiciary of Guatemala, as well as the good wishes which I hereby express in its name for the ever-increas- ing prosperity of the Great Republic and for the happiness of its most deserving Chief Magistrate. (15) ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT LANSING SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES IN EXTENDING A WELCOME TO THE GUATEMALAN SPECUL MISSION [Delivered at a Formal Luncheon Tendered by the Secretary of State in Honor of the Mission.] Gentlemen of the Guatemalan Mission : On behalf of the President and the Government of the United States I extend to you a sincere and hearty welcome. It is not often that we have the honor of receiving a delegation which represents the three coordinate branches of a Government, thus expressing the com- plete national character of its mission. This spontaneous expression of friendship and good will on the part of the executive, legislative, and judicial authorities of Guatemala possesses a deeper significance than the limitations of language can well express. It voices the unitj^ of thought and purpose of our respective nations. Without hesitation, your people joined with ours in responding to the call for the vindi- cation of right and justice. I well recall the memorable words of Mr. Mendez in transmitting to this Government notice of the sever- ance of diplomatic relations with Germany. " I take pleasure," he said, " in reiterating that Guatemala from the first has adhered to and supported the attitude of the United States in the defense of the rights of nations, the liberty of the seas, and of international justice, and that it always has considered itself in unity with your great Nation in the lofty principles which it has so wisely proclaimed for the good of humanity. " Therefore, Guatemala takes the greatest pleasure in oifering to the United States of America her territorial waters, her ports and railways, for use in common defense, as also all elements which may be available for the same purpose." (17) I am certain tliat history affords few instances of a more generous and unequivocal offer of cooperation, a greater evidence of confi- dence and friendship. The unity of purpose expressed in this mes- sage is indicative of that hirger unity of the ideals which should always characterize the relations between (iuatemala and the Ignited States. With common purposes and mutual good will the future in- tercourse of our two countries will bring to both a truer and better understanding and that sympathy which only sincere friendship ever knows. I want to take this opportunity to express to you, and through you to President Estrada Cabrera, the profound appreciation of the Gov- ernment of the United States as well as my personal thanks not only for the offer of cooperation, to which I have referred, but for the effective service rendered during the great struggle from which we have just emerged. In this nu\rked evidence of his confidence, now emphasized by the presence here of you, gentlemen, I see a happy augury of the future years before us. A happy circumstance makes the celebration of to-day coincide with the natal day of President Estrada Cabrera. I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to extend to him congratulations and warm wishes and to assure him of the deep feeling of friendship that we all entertain for him. Gentlemen, I propose the health of President Estrada Cabrera. (18) ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL IN REPLYING TO THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME OF SECRETARY LANSING [Translation.] His Excellency Mr. Secretary : We are deeply thankful for the words which you were pleased to speak in behalf of Guatemala, its Government, and the Commission over which I have the honor to preside. They are all the more sig- nificant because coming- from so eminent a personage as Your Ex- cellency, and because they show unmistakably how you have appre- ciated the attitude of Guatemala toward the United States at all times and particularly on the important occasion to which you refer. We are and always have been good friends of this great Nation, and His Excellency President Doctor Estrada Cabrera has endeavored to demonstrate this at every opportunity. While regretting the breakdown of the health of His Excellency Doctor Woodrow Wilson and wishing him early recovery, we hope that this Nation, ever greater and more prosperous, may continue successfully along the glorious path which it has traced for itself. In conclusion, I take pleasure in thanking you very sincerely for your remembrance of His Excellency Doctor Estrada Cabrera, espe- cially as this is his birthday, and, on his behalf and voicing his senti- ments, I propose a health to the Government and people of the United States of America and for Your Excellency's happiness. i^