GG Proyecto Nueva Constitución 1940 #2

GG Proyecto Nueva Constitución 1940 #1

Gustavo Gutiérrez presented to Congress on October 30, 1936, according to some sources, the first draft for the creation of the new Constitution for the Republic of Cuba. Below you will find first, the table of content to the "Proyecto," followed by the 18 page introduction to Dr. Gutiérrez' "History of Cuba's Constitutional Law," volume 1, 533 pages, published in 1938. The first 9 pages cover the three Constitutional Convention periods; (1901-1902), (1927-1928), (1936-1940). He analyzes concepts by German political philosopher,Oswald Spengler, Hans Kelsen (modern constitutional philosopher) as well as B. Mirkine-Guetzevitch and how their ideas, as well as the Constitutions of The USA, France, Germany, Austria, USSR and Spain influenced his ideas regarding Cuba's judicial future.

Dr, Gutiérrez states that his "Proyecto" received the honor (chosen by the Senate and later approved by the House of Representatives) of serving as the basis by which constitutes "el Proyecto de Reforma Integral de la Ley Constitutional vigente." He concludes that his project was considered by the Senators, "too daring and extreme in many areas and was modified substantially."

In the 1943 issue of Hispanic American Historical Review (Vol. 23, No. 2, May, 1943) Duvon C. Corbitt discusses the creation of the Cuban constitution of 1940. He writes, "Among the publications which influenced the constitution as finally adopted on July 1, 1940, was the "Proyecto de la nueva constitución par la Republica de Cuba (Havana, 1940)" by Dr. Gustavo Gutierrez, then president of the House of Representatives. Since, by the law of 1935, that body was required to present such a plan as a basis for discussions in the anticipated constitutional convention, this was used as a starting point for the House." More from this issue of the HAHR can be read in blog entry, "New Constitution Project, 1940, April, 2009. In this entry on can also see a photograph of Dr. Gutierrez, while he was president of the House of Representatives (1940-1941), leading a meeting in what appears to be a House chamber in the Capitol Building.

In an article written by Perla Cartaya Cotta entitled, Carlos Marquez-Sterling y la Constitucion de 1940," in the online magazine Palabranueva.net, "Revista de la Arquidiosis de La Habana, October / 2009, No. 189, Ms. Cartaya Cotta states, "soon thereafter a bicameral commission was created composed of legislators from both the House and Senate. Dr. Gustavo Gutierrez Sanchez was chosen as it's advisor (or counsel). He was an eminent jurist (lawyer) and professor of International Public Law at the University of Havana, whose responsibility it was to draft the electoral law and the final project of the new Constitution."

In 1976 Carlos Marquez-Sterling wrote an article in honor of Gustavo Gutierrez in El Diario de las Americas where he states, " Gustavo had formed part of the Bicameral Commission which drafted the project of the Constitution and I can assure you that many of the institutions that later found expression in our original document were based on previous works created by Gustavo Gutierrez."

Revista Bohemia 1949

In the section entitled, "La Marcha del Tiempo," Bohemia Magazine wrote a piece on Dr. Gustavo Gutiérrez under the heading, "Internationalist, Bohemia Presents." The cartoonist that drew GG was David, one of Cuba's best known caricaturists. The following is the original text in Spanish.

According to family letters this exposé was published to give support to Dr. Gutiérrez in defense of his position at the United Nations against the inclusion of Generalisimo Franco's fascist government into that body. A subsequent scandal ensued whereby Gutiérrez was incorrectly identified by the Associated Press as congratulating and shaking hands with Soviet ambassador Gromyko after he delivered a speech in the General Assembly condemning Spain. The main Cuban newspaper attacked Dr. Gutiérrez as a result and was forced to apologize. In Gutiérrez' defense Bohemia magazine stated below, "During the last session of the United Nations, his (GG) speech in the General Assembly regarding Franco's Spain was one the firmist, most concrete and of purest democratic emotion that has been pronounced in that organization."

"El doctor Gustavo Gutiérrez Sanchez nació en Camajuaní, Santa Clara, el 22 de septiembre de 1895, siendo hijo del señor Miguel Gutierrez almacenista de tabaco, y de la señora María Sanchez. Cursó su enseñanza secundaria en el Colegio de Belen, de La Habana, pasando después a la Universidad donde se graduó de abogado. Muy joven inició GG sus actividades culturales publicando sus "Apuntes de Derecho Internacional Publico" (1916), a los que pronto se añadieron "Los Derechos de la Nación Cubana" (1919). "El Derecho a la Revolución" (1922), "El Problema Económico de Cuba" (1931), "La Enmienda Platt: su origen, su alcance, su abrogación (1934), "Proyecto de Nueva Constitución para la Republica de Cuba" (1940) -Código Electoral de 1943", "La Carta Magna de la Comunidad de las Naciones (1945), "Compilación Constitucional Cubana y muchas otras obras que hacen de GG una de nuestras máximas autoridades en materia constitucional y uno de nuestros más respetados internacionalistas. Es miembro de la Academia Cubana de Altos Estudios Juridicos, ex profesor por oposición de Derecho Internacional en la Universidad de la Habana, ex Ministro de Justicia y ex Presidente de la Camara de Representantes y es actualmente Secretario de la Junta Nacional de Economia, Embajador de Cuba ante el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU y Presidente p.s.r. de la Delegación de Cuban a la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas. En su carácter técnico ha asistido como Delegado de Cuba a la Sexta Conferencia Internacional Americana (1928), a la Cuarta Conferencia Comercial Panamericana (1931), al Octavo Congreso Cientifico Americano (1940) y es miembre de la Comisión Permanente Pan-Americana de Legislación Comparada y Unificación de Legislaciones.

Representó a Cuba en las Conferencias preparatorias (para el G.A.T.T.)-de Nueva York, Londres y Ginebra-de la de Comercio y Empleo, celebrada en La Habana en diciembre de 1947. Tuvo a su cargo la organización de esta última como Presidente de la CACNUCE, y posteriormente presidió la Delegación cubana, al ser electo el ingeniero Sergio I. Clark, para presidir la Conferencia. Durante la ultima reunion de la ONU, su informe (discurso en la Asamblea General) sobre el caso de la España de Franco, fué uno de los más firmes, concretos y de más pura emoción democrática que se hayan pronunciado en dicho organismo. GG está casado con la señora María Vianello García con la que tiene cuatro hijas: Berta, Marta, Yolanda y María.

Cubans of Today 1919 (W.B.Parker) Hispanic Society of America