The San Francisco call., 1908-12-28
PLANS CONFERENCE
FOR CONSERVATION
President Invites Canada and
Mexico to Take Part in
Washington Gathering
Best Methods Of Conserving
Natural Resources of North
America to Be Discussed

WASHINGTON, Dec Pit was an
nounced today at the White House that
a conference looking toward the con-
servation of the natural resources of
North America would be held at the
White HoAse February IS next
Letters suggesting the plan have been
addressed by President Roosevelt to the
governor general and to the premier of
Canada and to President Diaz of Mex
leo. They will be delivered to the Of
ficials in person by Clifford Pinchot.
chairman of the national conservation
commission and chief forester of the
United States.
Pinchot will first visit Canada. Ieav-
ing tomorrow. He will then carry the
invitation to President Diaz at the City
of Mexico.
The proposed conference is the out
growth of the two conservation confer
ences in which the governors of the
states and territories were the princi-
pal conferees- At the second confer
ence representatives of the Canadian
government expressed their interest in
the movement. Out of this grew the
idea of North American conference
ito consider mutual interests involved
in the conservation of natural resources
and to deliberate upon the practica-
bility OF procuring a plan adopted to
promote the welfare of the nations
concerned
PRESIDENTS LETTER
The presidents letter to the governor
general of Canada is as follows:
In May of the present year the gov
ernors of the several states and terri
tories of this union met in the White
House to confer with the president and
and condition of the natural resources
or this country and to consider the
most effective means for conserving
tnem- he conference was followed by
lhe appointment of conservation COM
missions on the part of the nation and
OF majority of the states.
A second conference has recently
been held in this city. 1t was called
TO consider an inventory of our natural
resources prepared by the national con-
servation commission. It's most i'm
portant result will doubtless appear in
cooperation on the part of the nation,
the states and the great associations of
citizens for action upon this great ques-
tion, upon which the progress of the
people, of the United States obviously
depends.
1t is evident that the natural re-
sources are not limited by boundary
lines which separate nations, and that
the need for conserving them upon
this continent is as wide as the area
upon which they exist.
INVITED TO CONFERENCE
In view, therefore. of these considera-
tons and of the close bonds of friend
ship and mutual aims which exist be-
tween Canada and the United States,
take especial pleasure in inviting you
to designate representatives of the gov
ernment of Canada to meet and consult
with representatives OF. the state and
other departments of this government
and the national conservation commis-
sion in the city of Washington Febru-
airy Is. 1909.
The purpose of the conference / have
the hoDor to propose is 10 consider. .Iau-
tual interests involved in the conser-
vation of natural resources. and in this
great field TO deliberate upon the prae-
ticability of preparing a general plan
adapted to promote the welfare of the
nations concerned l have this day ad-
dressed a similar invitation to the re-
pubic of Mexico. expressing my hope
that representatives of that govern
ment also will be present and partici-
pate in the proposed conference of
the preservation of natural resources of
North America.
The conclusions of such conference.