File No. 893.001Y9/8.
The President to the President of China.
Washington, October 9, 1913.
On this auspicious occasion of Your Excellency’s inauguration as Chief Magistrate of the Chinese Republic, I offer to Your Excellency my congratulations on the trust and confidence reposed in you by the National Assembly and felicitate the Assembly and the Chinese people on the selection for that high and honorable office of a gentleman [Page 133] so eminently qualified as yourself. It is my hope and expectation that guided by the principles of right and justice and the high ideals of republican government Your Excellency’s administration will be so conducted as to assure the advancement of China and conduce to the peace, happiness and prosperity of her people. It will be my pleasure to cooperate with you in preserving and still more firmly cementing the friendly and cordial relations between the two countries.