Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-28
AN INVITATION
For canada and Mexico
To Join United States
In Conserving National Re-
sources Of North America.
Conference to Be Held Feb. 10
Next at the White House.


Of Il proposed plan for conference
looking toward the conservation Of the
natural resources OF North America to
be held at the White House Feb. 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
D:az of McXico They will be delivered
to the officials III person by Glllofd
PinchOt chairman of the National Con
serVation Commission and chief fofes-
ter OF the United States, whom PrtSi-
dent Roosevelt has chosen as his per
snnal representative to convey the IN
vitations and to confer with the au-
thorities of the two governments. Mr.
Pinchot will first visit Canada, leaving
| tomorrow He will then carry the in
VitatOn to President DIaZ of Mexico
| City. The proposed North American
| conference is the outgroWth Of the tWo
| conservation conference held IN wash
| ington in which the governors of the
states and territories We're the prin-
| cipal confereeS.
At the second conference, in which
| on Dec President Roosevelt and
| Prcsident-elect Taft participated, rep
resentatiVes of the Canadian govern
ment We're present and expressed their
| interest in the conservative movement.
| The representatives designated by the
| Canadian and Mexican governments
Will\ under the proposed plan, consult
with representatives of the state and
other departments of this government
anG with the national conservation
committee The main object of the con-
| ference will be to point out that nat
,lral resources are not limited by the
| boundary lines which separate nations
| t., develop a better knowledge of the
natural resources of each nation on the
mart of the others and to invite sug-
gestions for concurrent action for the
protection of mutual interests related
| to conservation.
The Presidents letter to Lord Grey.
| governor general of Canada, is as fol-
| lows:
IN May of the present year the gov
ernors of several states and territories
| Of this union met in the White House
to confer with the President and with
| each other concerning the amount ana
| condition of the natural resources OF
| this country and to consider the most
| effective means of conserving them.
| The conference included also the men,
bors of the supree court, the caplnet
and members of both houses of Con
| gress. together with representatives o1
| the great associations of citizens con-
| cerned with natural resources. Inc
| conference was followed by the APP
nointment of conservation commissions
| of the nation and a majority OF the
| states.
! "A second conference of the national
| commission, with the governors, the
state committees and the conservation
| commissions OF the associations mas
recently been held in this city. 1t was
| called to consider an inventory OF our
| natural resources prepared by the Ma
tional Conservation Commission. lts
| most important result will doubtless
| annear in cooperation on the part OIL
| the nation, the state and the great as
| sociatians of citizens for action upon
this great question upon which the
| progress of the people of the Unlted
| States obviously depends
| at is evident that natural resources
| are not limited by the boundary lines
| which separate nations and that The
need for conserving them upon TINS
| continent is as wide as the area upon
which they exist. In view, therefore. OF
these considerations and of the close
| bonds of friendship and mutual aims
| which exist between Canada and the
| United States | take especial pleasure
| in inviting you to designate representa-
tiyes of the government of Canada to
meet and consult with representatives
Of the state and other departments of
this government and the National Con-
servation Commission in the city of
| Washington, on Feb. IS, 1909. The pur
nose of the conference / have the hon
or to propose is to consider mutual
interests involved in the conservation
of natural resources, and in this great
field to deliberate upon the practicable
ity of preparing general plan adapted
to promote the welfare Of the nations
concerned.
| II have this date addressed similar
| invitation to the Republic of Mexico
expressing my hope that representa-
| tives oc that government also will be
present and participate in the proposed
conference of the natural resources of
| North America.
."The conclusions. of such a confer
| ence WnOly ADVISORY III clidfdctei,
could hardly fail to yield important
beneficial results, both in a better
| knowledge of the natural resources of
each nation on the part of the others
and suggestions for concurrent action
for the protection of mutual interests
related to conservation.
"As my representative to convey to
you this letter and invitation, and at
your desire to consult with you con-
cerning the proposed conference I have
selected an officer of this government,
| chief Of the United States Forestry Ser
vice and chairman of the National
Conservation Committee. whom COM
mend to your kind offices.
| "Sncerely yours,
| (Signed)
1