811.015315/6
The Minister in Honduras (
Jones
) to
the Acting Secretary of State
Tegucigalpa
,
December 16,
1918
.
[Received January 7,
1919.]
No. 72
Sir: Referring to my cablegram of the 9th
instant 4 P.M. concerning the desecration of the American Flag by
alleged drunken men at Juticalpa, I have the honor to report as
follows:
As I informed you in my despatch No. 68 of the 9th instant,16 in view of the very friendly
and cordial expressions and relations at all times existing in my
dealings with the President and his Cabinet, [Page 396] I called informally upon the Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs and after giving him all the details in hand suggested,
in response to his request, that an investigation and punishment of the
offenders and an expression of regret, which I knew the President felt,
would be quite agreeable. To my surprise, a day or two later, the Under
Secretary for Foreign Affairs called with a telegraphic communication
from President Bertrand saying that the men were drunk and the Flags
were without official standing, in any case. There were neither regrets
expressed or the slightest suggestion of investigation or punishment.
After maturely considering the whole matter and believing that an
acceptance of such a reply was intolerable, and believing further that
an utter failure of the Government to investigate and to punish the
offenders or to even take the matter seriously, would invite other
insults and abuses and open the door to unending friction, I addressed
the Foreign Office in a formal Note, copy of which is hereto
attached.
He had promised to furnish me with a copy of the telegraphic memorandum
of the President above referred to, but to the present time failed to do
so. Since then he has stated that he was carefully considering my
communication and would later make reply.
Three things stood out in my mind in considering this entire incident:
- 1st.
- The occasion was a demonstration in honor of the Honduranean
President and the Flags were displayed by official leave.
- 2nd.
- The offenders were drunk but just drunk enough to desecrate
the American and British Flags but sober enough not to touch the
Honduranean Flag.
- 3rd.
- The President had as his guest and adviser, at Juticalpa at
the time, Mariano Vasquez, former Secretary for Foreign Affairs
and who, it is reported, will be the new Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, and an active propagandist of Central American union
…
I hereto attach copy of certification from Major William G. Luckhardt in
relation to the matter, which was received to-day.16
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The American Minister (
Jones
) to the Honduran Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs (
López Ponce
)
Tegucigalpa
,
December 11,
1918
.
Mr. Sub-Secretary: After thoroughly
considering the informal telegraphic reply of His Excellency
President Bertrand to the complaint made on account of the
desecration of the American Flag [Page 397] by a drunken mob at Juticalpa, which reply you
handed me this morning, I have deemed it proper to call to your
further consideration and, through you, to the attention of His
Excellency, President Bertrand, the following facts, viz:
Under the laws and usages of the United States Government, there is
no added or sacramental import to an official Flag, in
contradistinction to an unofficial Flag and no official
authorization is required to display a Flag. Besides, I have been
officially informed that the consent of the local authorities had
been obtained for the display, not only of the American, but of the
British and Honduranean Flags on the occasion referred to. This
outrageous insult had added significance and affront by reason of
the fact that the display of the American Flag was intended as a
compliment and honor to the President of a friendly Sister
Republic.
Under the uniform interpretation of the law, a man in a state of
inebriation is not excused from the penalties of his crime because
he was drunk. If such were the case, the plea of drunkenness would
undo and set at naught every process of punitive justice. At this
particular time, when the United States has passed through such an
ordeal of blood and sacrifice in which its Flag has been the Emblem,
not only of Honor and Justice but of supreme sacrifice, we have so
jealously guarded and protected It and so regarded the slightest
affront to its sacredness as that long years of penal servitude have
been imposed upon those who have in the slightest degree, insulted
or desecrated It. I am quite sure that my Government would view with
regret and disappointment a dismissal of so grave a charge as that
made against the drunken men who not only insulted its Emblem, but
tore It down and desecrated It, with a mere statement that they were
drunk and that the Flag had no official standing.
I am equally sure that your Government, so closely allied with Mine
in recent difficulties, not only in sentiments and sympathies, but
in deeds and acts; so generously and cordially disposed in every
matter related to their mutual relationships, reprobates and
discounternances all such acts as those complained of. I deem it,
therefore, pertinent to ask that the guilty parties be sought out
and punished and that the usual sentiments between friendly
Governments in such circumstances be expressed.
I take [etc.]
