File No. 811.607 G/41b.
[Untitled]
Department of State,
Washington,
February 5, 1912.
To the diplomatic officers of the United States.
Gentlemen: I herewith transmit a copy of a
proclamation issued by the President on February 2, 1912, inviting, on
behalf of the Government and people of the United States, the nations of
the earth to participate in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
in nineteen hundred and fifteen, at San Francisco, California, to
celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal.
It is the desire of the President, speaking for the people of the United
States, that all the nations of the earth may take part in the
exposition by appointing representatives thereto and by sending such
exhibits as will most fitly and fully illustrate their resources, their
industries, and their progress in civilization.
In communicating this invitation to the Government to which you are
accredited, you will express the pleasure which the President would feel
should that Government decide to accept it by appointing commissioners
and by further participating in the exposition through such a display of
its arts and sciences and natural and commercial resources as is
contemplated, and you will add that authority will be invested either in
a national commission to be appointed pursuant to an act of Congress, or
by a commission to be appointed by the Secretary of State, as may
hereafter be decided, to settle and determine any and all disputes
arising between nations, or between or with foreign exhibitors regarding
space, location or other matters connected therewith, and to require
such provision to be made by the directors of the exposition as the
commission shall deem reasonable for the entertainment, care and comfort
of the representatives of foreign nations who shall visit the exposition
in acceptance of this invitation.
It is not doubted that you will interest yourself in every proper way to
promote the enterprise.
At an early date further information relating to the exposition will be
communicated to you for transmission to the Foreign Office.
I am [etc.]
[Page 5]
[Inclosure.]
By the President of the United States of
America,
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, in conformity with the conditions and requirements of the
Joint Resolution of Congress approved February 15, 1911,
“Authorizing the President to invite foreign countries to
participate in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in
nineteen hundred and fifteen, at San Francisco, California,”
satisfactory proof has been presented to me that a suitable site has
been selected for the said Exposition and that the sum of not less
than fifteen million dollars will be available to enable the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company, a corporation
organized and existing under and, by virtue of the laws of the State
of California, for the purpose of inaugurating, carrying forward,
and holding an exposition at the City of San Francisco, California,
in the year nineteen hundred and fifteen, to celebrate the
completion and opening of the Panama Canal;
Now, therefore, I, William Howard Taft,
President of the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by said Joint Resolution, do hereby declare
and proclaim that such International Exposition will be opened in
the year nineteen hundred and fifteen, in the City of San Francisco,
in the State of California. And, in the name of the Government and
of the people of the United States of America, I do hereby invite
all the nations of the earth to take part in the commemoration of an
event of great interest and importance to the world by appointing
representatives to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and
sending thereto such exhibits as will most fitly and fully
illustrate their resources, their industries, and their progress in
civilization.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed.
[seal.] Done at
the City of Washington this second day of February, in the year of
our Lord nineteen hundred and twelve, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the one hundred and thirty-sixth.
By the President:
P C Knox
Secretary of State.
