File No. 816.015.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
No. 260.]
American Legation,
San Salvador,
August 24, 1912.
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.]
[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.
Given in the Chamber of Sessions of the
Legislative Power, National
Palace, San
Salvador, May 17,
1912.
F. Vaquero, President.
Juan Mena,
1st Secretary.
R. Quintanilla,
2d Secretary.
National Palace,
San Salvador, May 27, 1912.
Let it be executed.
[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.
