Juan Arnoldo Smitmans López

Juan Arnoldo Smitmans López (11 July 1912 – 3 July 1996) was a Chilean lawyer, diplomat, and liberal politician who served as Deputy between 1937 and 1953, and later as Ambassador to Mexico and Colombia.

Biography Smitmans López was born in Los Sauces, Malleco, on 11 July 1912, the son of Gerardo Smitmans Rothamel, former senator of German descent, and Mercedes López Torres.

He studied at the German High School of Santiago and later at the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile, graduating as a lawyer in 1932 with the thesis “Las lesiones ante la medicina legal”. He dedicated himself to private practice with a specialization in civil cases.

He married Clemencia Ibáñez Granifo in 1939, later married María Correa Morandé in 1959, and contracted a third marriage with María Angélica Gutiérrez Merino.

Political career A member of the Liberal Party, he became secretary-general and vice-president of the party.

He was elected Deputy for the 19th Departamental Group (Laja, Nacimiento and Mulchén) for the 1937–1941 legislative period, serving on the Standing Committee on Constitution, Legislation, and Justice.

He was reelected for the 20th Departamental Group (Angol, Collipulli, Traiguén and Victoria) for the 1941–1945 term, serving on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Colonization.

In 1945 he joined the Liberal Progressive Party and was reelected for the 1945–1949 and 1949–1953 terms, serving on the Standing Committees on Government and on Constitution, Legislation and Justice. He also served as Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies.

He was appointed Ambassador of Chile to Mexico (1953–1963) and subsequently to Colombia (1963–1965). He was also accredited as non-resident ambassador to Cuba and Guatemala.

Outside politics he managed agricultural estates in Malleco, including “El Laurel” and “Santa Catalina”.

After the military regime, Smitmans joined the Alianza de Centro Party, becoming its president between 1990 and 1991.

Memberships He was a member of the Club de la Unión, Club de Septiembre, and the Social Club of Angol.

He received honorary doctorates from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Universidad de Guadalajara, and was honorary president of the Bar Association of Mexico.

Decorations He received numerous decorations, including the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the Guatemalan Order of the Quetzal, the Cuban Order Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (Grand Cross), and the Colombian Order of San Carlos (Grand Cross).