File No. 816.015.

The American Minister to the Secretary of State .

No. 260.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a decree of the National Legislative Assembly which was passed on the 17th of May, 1912, and published in the Diario Official of the 20th of that month, prescribing a new coat of arms for the flag of Salvador, which new insignia will begin to be adopted on the 15th of September next. I also enclose a translation of this decree.

It was only a few days ago that the jury which was to decide upon the form to be adopted for the new coat of arms rendered its finding, and yesterday the Minister for Foreign Affairs transmitted to me with a note (a copy and translation of which I enclose), a number of copies of the coat of arms and models of the flag of Salvador, together with a description of the new national insignia, a copy and translation of which description, as well as of the coat of arms and the models of the flag, also acompany this despatch.

I have [etc.]

Wm. Heimke.
[Inclosure 1.—Translation]

Decree.

The National Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Salvador, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Section 16a of Article 67 of the Constitution, and at the initiative of the Chief Executive,

Decrees:

Article 1. The adoption for the Republic of Salvador of the coat of arms and flag of Central America decreed by the National Constituent Assembly of the United Provinces of Central America, on August 21, 1823, with the modifications hereinafter expressed.

Consequently:

1st.
The coat of arms of Salvador shall be an equalateral triangle. At its base shall appear the ridge of five volcanoes, placed on land which appears to be watered by both seas; in the upper section a rainbow which covers them; below the rainbow the liberty cap shedding light; and in the form of a semicircle within its rays, the legend: “September 15, 1821.” Encircling the triangle shall be written in letters of gold. “Republic of Salvador in Central America.” and at the base of the triangle: “God, Union and Liberty.”1
2d.
This coat of arms shall be placed in all the ports and public offices.
3d.
The Great Seal of the Nation, that of the secretariat of the National Assembly, and of the agents of the Government and tribunals of justice shall have the same coat of arms.
4th.
The national flag for the ports and vessels shall consist of three horizontal bands, the upper and lower ones blue and the middle band white, in which middle band shall be shown the coat of arms already described. In pennants the bands shall be placed perpendicularly in the order mentioned. The same flag shall be used by Government envoys to foreign countries. On merchant vessels flags and pennants shall not have the coat of arms, and in the central band shall be written in letters of silver “God, Union and Liberty”.
5th.
The flags and standards of military corps shall be arranged hi the manner named in the previous number. The bauds shall always be horizontal; in the central one shall be designed the coat of arms; in the upper band shall [Page 1340] be written the words “God, Union and Liberty and in the lower band the class and number of each corps. On those of the infantry and artillery corps both inscriptions shall be in letters of gold and on those of the cavalry corps in letters of silver.

Article 2. The Decree of April 28, 1865, is repealed.

Article 3. This Decree shall have the force of law after September 15 of the current year.

F. Vaquero, President.

Juan Mena,
1st Secretary.

R. Quintanilla,
2d Secretary.

National Palace,
San Salvador, May 27, 1912.

Let it be executed.

Manuel E. Araujo.
[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

Description of the national insignia. 1

infantry standard.

Length 1 m. 45 cm. Stripes 30 cm. each.

It will consist of three stripes, the upper and lower ones blue, and the central one, on which will be designed the coat of arms, white. The coat of arms will be in the center of the standard. In the upper stripe will be written in letters of gold the words: Dios, Unión y Libertad (God, Union and Liberty), and in the lower the class by number of each corps.

standard for mounted arms.

Length 60 cm. Stripes 15 cm. each.

It will consist of three vertical stripes, the right and left ones blue, and the central one, on which will be designed the coat of arms, white. In the upper part will be written the words: Dios, Unión y Libertad, and in the lower the class by number of each corps, in letters of silver for the cavalry and of gold for the artillery. The coat of arms shall be in the center of the standard.

flags for vessels.

Length 1 m. 70 cm. Stripes 30 cm. each.

It will consist of three stripes, the upper and lower blue, and the central one, on which shall be designed the coat of arms, white. Flags and pennants on merchant vessels will not carry the coat of arms, and in the central stripe will be written in letters of silver the words: Dios, Unión y Libertad.

Government envoys to foreign countries will use this flag.

flags to be raised (over buildings).

Length 2 m. 30 cm. Stripes 60 cm. each.

It will consist of three horizontal stripes, the upper and lower blue, and the central one white.

  1. The word “and” does not appeal in the coat of arms.
  2. Transmitted to the American Minister by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, August 23, 1912.