New-York tribune., 1909-02-20
TO INVITE 45 NATIONS
PRESIDENT TO SUMMON
RESOURCES COUNCIL.
Mar Meet at The Hague in Septem-
ber-Some Pozcers Haze Al
ready ShozCn Interest.
TFrorn Tne Tribune Bureau. !

TFrorn Tne Tribune Bureaul
washington. Feb. 19-The President to-day
formulated call for great international con-
ference for the consideration Of the conservation
Of natural resources. It is proposed that this
conference meet at The Hague in September OF
this year. This action is taken the result of
numerous ;ntirnations conveyed through diplo-
mate channels that such q conference would be
welcomed by considerable number of the pow
,-s As II was desired that the call should be
issued during the sessions Of the tripartite con-
ss-snce now in session in Washington. the
President with the assistance of the Secretary
~ State and Of Clifford Pinchot, National For
ester drew up the cali to-day. It will be sent
immediately to each OF the forty-fve. nations
IN the roll Of The Hague
While the perfection of the programme for the
eonfe-enoe will be left TO the conference itself.
tt Is expected that the first step TO be considered
VII be the advisability Of taking soma sort Of
universal inventory Of the worlds natural re-
so=1roes with view to ascertaining how great
ss the available supply OF each commodity OF
course methods Of conservation. comparisons
o< the benefits derived therefrom. where such
.-a already in existence. and consideration Of
the evils resulting from the neglect Of such
,ns+bods will slso constitute q considerable por
.ton o1 tbs proceedings.
The President, while deeply and sincerely COM
,,is.4a 10 the conservation movement has also
a secondary purpose in calling this conference
Re believes that cooperation among the ma
lions Of the earth, especially the civilized na-
,ions Will make for better international un-
outstanding snd thus initiate against war He
ts convinced that the meeting of delegations
,-nn all or a great many civilized nations will
develop q community of interest and promote
vzo-ld-1ids harmony hardly attainable by other
means
N an Official statement given out at the White
House tonight. it was announced that the con-
ference Of delegates. representing the United
States Mexico and Canada, upon having ex-
changed views and considered the Information
s,,nnlied from the respective countries, was con-
v5nced OF the Importance of the movement for
fbe conservation Of natural resources on the
continent Of North America and believed that
Il was Of such a nature and OF such general
inheritance that it should become worldwide in
its scope and therefore suggested TO the Presi-
deut that all nations should be invited to Join
together in conference the subject Of world
resources and their inventory. conservation and
vise utilization Anticipating the wide interest
zbsch would naturally be aroused in other
countries bv the present conference, the Presi-
cent himself foresaw the probability that il
would be the precursor Of world conference
By an side-memoire OF January last the prin-
ciusi governments were informally sounded 10
ascertain whether they would look with favor
rIpon an invitation 70 send delegates to such
conference The responses have SO far been
uniformly favorable.
That President Roosevelt is deeply concerned
regarding certain phases OF the natural re-
sources Of countries other than the United
States, especially 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 to-day. This
was one of the prime factors which led him to
initiate the worldwide movement The once ex-
tensfve forests OF China, Southern Russia. Italy
Spain and France have been almost completely
denuded and this fact and the consequent un-
nsvigability OF many Of their important water
WAYS have been brought 10 the Presidents at
tention
II is believed that all nations invited VIII ac-
cept the invitation with the same degree Of
ccrdality with which Canada and Mexico ac-
oepted the invitation 10 take part in the North
American conference II was learned to-day
that at least two foreign powers felt keenly dis
appointed because they not invited 20 meet
with the North American conference, and they
hsve suggested the advisability Of an interna-
aonal conference through correspondence ana
through their diplomatic representatives IN
asnuch as the initial move has been taken by
President Roosevelt the engineering Of the mat
Ter viii be left to this government
IN an Official statement by Secretary OF state
Bacon today II was stated that such a confer
ence might well consider a general plan for an
Inventory CT the natural resources OF the "orlo
and Of devising a uniform scheme for the ex-
preston Of the world results Of. such inventory
70 the end that there may be a general uhoer-
standing and appreciation OF the worIo supply
q the material elements which unoerlle tne
development of civilization and the welfare OF
the people of the earth II will be appropriate
also the statement says. for the conference 10
consider the general phase Of the correlated prop-
lens Of checking, and, when possible. repairing
the injuries caused by the waste and destruc-
fion Of natural resources and utilities and 10
make recommendations in the interest OF thelr
conservation DEVELOPMENT and repenishment
With such q world inventory and such rec
concentrations continues the statement the
rario;,s producing countries of the whole world
wou.l be in a letter position TO cooperate each
Cor iSs own good and all for the good OF all
toward the safeguarding and betterment Of
their common means of support knowledge
Of the continuance ard stability of perennial
and renewable resources is no less important 70
the world than a knowledge of the quantity or
The term remaining for the enjoyment OF those
resource which. when consumed, are fireplace
able Reading the lessons OF the past Alright, IT
would be for such a conference 10 look through
the present TO the future