The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-02-26

Should Include All Civilized Peo-
ple-The Countries Sounded Are
Favorable To The Proposal-Ar-
rngements Are Left In The Hands
OF The United States.
Washington, D. C. Especially -
So thoroughly impressed is President
Roosevelt with the necessity for the
conservation of the natural resources
of the world that he directed Secre-
tary Of State Bacon. at the sugges-
ton OF the North American Conser-
walton Conference, in sess' on here,
to extend formal invitation to for
eign powers to participate in an in
ternational conference to deal with
this important problem. to be held
at The Hague next September. All
of the As nations represented at The
Hague Peace Conference will be in-
vited to participate.
The announcement of the proposed
international gathering was made. by
President \ Roosevelt, following 4
luncheon which he gave in honor of
the commissioners from this coun-
try Canada and Mexico, who are in
attendance upon the North Ameri-
can Conservation Conference. In ad-
dit'on, Ambassador Bryce, of Great
Britain; Senator Knox and others
were present. Senator Knox, who is
to be Secretary of State in Mr.. Taft's
Cabinet, and upon whom will deyolve
the duty of furthering the move
ment, is in hearty sympathy with the
idea of worlds conference.
In an official statement given out
at the White House 1t was announced
that the conference of delegates, rep
resenting the United States, Mexico
and Canada, having exchanged
views and cons dered the information
supplied from the respective countries,
is convinced of the Importance of
the movement for the conservation
of natural resources on the continent
of North America, and believes that
it is of such a nature and of such
general Importance that it should be-
come worldwide in its srope, and
therefore suggests to the President
that all nations should be invited
to join together in con ference on the
subject of world resources and their
inventory, conservation and wise
utilization.
Anticipating the wide interest
which would naturally be aroused in
other countries by the present cor
ference, the President himself FORE
saw the probability that it would
be the precursor of world confer
ence.. BY an aide-memoire of Janu-
airy last the principal governments
were informally sounded to ascertain
whether they would look with favor
upon an invitation to send delegates
to such conference. The responses
have SO far been uniformly favora-
ble
That President Roosevelt is deeply
concerned regarding certain phases
of the natural resources of countries
other than the United States, espec-
tally that of the denuding of the
forests and the diminishing water
supply of those countries, was made
known to those who discussed the
matter with him. THIS was one Of
the prime factors which led him to
Initiate the worldwide movement.
The once extensive forests of China,
Southern Russia, Italy and Spain
and France have been almost COM
pletely denuded, and this fact and
the consequent unnavigability of
many of their important waterways
have been brought to the Presidents
attention.
It is believed that all nations in
vited will accept the invitation with
the same degree of cordially with
which Canada and Mexico accepted
The invitation to participate in the
North American conference.
To, HEAD TREASURY.