I beg you, gentlemen, to accept my hearty and sincere congratulations.
The people of Central America, withdrawn to a great distance from the
scene of your labors, may not know, but I wish that my voice might reach
each one of them to tell them that during the month that has passed
their loyal representatives have been doing for them in sincerity and in
the discharge of patriotic duty a service which stands upon the highest
level of the achievements of the most advanced modern civilization. You
have each one of you been faithful to the protection of the interests of
your several countries; you have each one of you exhibited patience,
kindly consideration, regard for the rights and feelings of others, and
a willingness to meet with open mind the opinions and wishes of your
fellow-countrymen; you have pursued the true method by which law, order,
peace, and justice are substituted for the unrestrained dominion of the
strong over the weak, and you have reached conclusions which I believe
are wise and are well adapted to advance the progress of each and all of
the Central American republics toward that much-to-be-desired
consummation in the future of one great, strong, and happy Central
American republic.
May the poor husbandman who cultivates the fields of your five
republics, may the miner who is wearing out his weary life in the hard
labors of your mines, may the mothers who are caring for the infant
children who are to make the peoples of Central America in the future,
may the millions whose prosperity and happiness you have sought to
advance here, may the unborn generations of the future in your beloved
countries, have reason to look back to this day with blessings upon the
self-devotion and the self-restraint with which you have endeavored to
serve their interests and to secure their prosperity and peace.
With this hope the entire body of my countrymen will join, and with the
expression of this hope I declare the Peace Conference of the Republics
of Central America, convened in the city of Washington in this year
nineteen hundred and seven, to be now adjourned.