Farewell speech of Mr. Knox to His Excellency Don Juan Vicente Gómez, President of Venezuela, March 25, 1912.

Mr. President: In saying good-by to you I wish to repeat that which we have tried to say to you again and again and which we feel most sincerely and deeply, and that is that you have our profound gratitude for all of the acts of kindly courtesy and hospitality that you have shown us since we have been in your Republic, and we shall carry home with us everlasting recollections of satisfaction, pleasure, enjoyment, and profitable observation. For my entire party I wish to emphasize the depth of our appreciation.

I have been asked especially, Mr. President, by the representatives of the American press who have accompanied us upon this journey to say to you for them, and with as much sincerity as I have endeavored to express my own feelings, that they rest under the deepest debt of gratitude not only for the comforts, recreations, and pleasures you have given to them, but for the particularly personal touch that you have given to every courteous act of hospitality of which they have been the recipients.

I will say good-by, and I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again.