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290019269
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White House Press Release, Statement by President Harry S. Truman
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doc
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document
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id
290019269
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document
title
White House Press Release, Statement by President Harry S. Truman
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President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)
Subject Files
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290019269
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3
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1952-07-03
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7
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1952
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nara-archive
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65e586dccab77c46
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3292
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 3, 1952
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I have today signed H.J. Res. 430, approving the Constitution
of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which was adopted by the people of
Puerto Rico on March 3, 1952.
I welcome this early approval by the Congress of the
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which I recommended
in a Special Message on April 22, 1952.
The adoption of this Constitution was authorized by the Act
of July 3, 1950. It is gratifying to me to be able to sign the Act
approving the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico two
years to the day after I approved the enabling legislation.
The Act of July 3, 1950 authorized the people of Puerto Rico
to organize a republican form of government pursuant to a constitution
of their own choosing. That Act, adopted by the Congress in the nature
of a compact, became effective only when accepted by the people of
Puerto Rico in a referendum.
On June 4, 1951, the people of Puerto Rico voted by a large
majority to accept the Act of July 3, 1950, thereby reaffirming their
union with the United States on the terms proposed by the Congress.
Following the referendum, the voters of Puerto Rico elected delegates to
a Constitutional Convention. The Convention convened in San Juan on
September 17, 1951, and concluded its deliberations on February 6, 1952.
The Constitution approved by the Constitutional Convention
was submitted to the people of Puerto Rico in a referendum on March 3,
1952, and was approved by an overwhelming majority. On April 22, 1952,
I transmitted the Constitution to the Congress for approval in accordance
with the provisions of the Act of July 3, 1950. The Constitution will
now become effective upon the acceptance by the Constitutional Con-
vention of the conditions of approval and the issuance of a proclamation
by the Governor of Puerto Rico.
H.J. Res. 430 is the culmination of a consistent policy of the
United States to confer an ever-increasing measure of local self-
government upon the people of Puerto Rico. It provides additional
evidence of this nation's adherence to the principle of self-determination
and to the ideals of freedom and democracy.
We take special pride in the fact that this Constitution is
the product of the people of Puerto Rico. When the Constitution of
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is proclaimed by the Governor, Puerto Rico
will have a government fashioned by the people of Puerto Rico to meet
their own needs, requirements and aspirations.
With the approval of H.J. Res. 430, the people of the United States
and the people of Puerto Rico are about to enter into a relationship based
on mutual consent and esteem. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico and the procedures by which it has come into being are matters
of which every American can be justly proud. They are in accordance with
principles we proclaim as the right of free peoples everywhere. July 3,
1952 should be a proud and happy day for all who have been associated in
a great task.