Charles Wheeler, San Francisco

[…] President Trujillo did not fail to grasp the opportunity of recognizing ‑ and adequately rewarding ‑ in the person of Paul Harris, those ideals of good will and closer relationship which are the constant source of inspiration of Rotary action, and which today combine with the hopes underlying advanced Pan Americanism to provide a solid foundation for that other valuable grouping of peoples, the United Nations, now engaged upon a victorious struggle for freedom and the most noble human sentiment.

It is for this reason that I consider it a great privilege to deliver in the midst of this Convention this diploma and this decoration to the great Founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, whom we so worthily have placed at the top of our organization and in the brightest and most everlasting place of international recognition.

I also wish to express the gratitude of the government and the people of the Dominican Republic for the resolution of the Rotary Convention of 1943 inviting all the Clubs to dedicate a meeting in the last week of February to commemorate our first century of independence.

Andres Pastoriza, Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic