Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-01-09
CONSERVATION PLAN,
President Roosevelt Invites Can
ada and Mexico to Conference.
TO AID NATURAL RESOURCES

White House to Be Scene Of Meeting
In Interests Of Continent Of North
America - outarOwth Of Two Ma
tional Conferences - Important Mu-
tuAlIy Beneficial Results Expected.
Announcement has been made in the
White House of plan for a confer
ence looking toward the conservation
OF the natural resources OF North
America, to be held In the White
House Feb. 1S next. Letters suggest
ing the plan have been addressed by
President Roosevelt to the governor
general and the premier of Canada
and to President Diaz of Mexico. They
will be delivered to those officials by
Clifford Pinchot, chairman of the ma
tional conservation commission and
chief forester of the United States,
whom President Roosevelt has chosen
as his personal representative to con-
fer with the authorities Of the two
governments. Pinchot first will visit
Canada. He then will carry the in
vitatiOn to President Diaz in Mexico
City.
The proposed North American con-
ference is the outgrowth Of the two
conservation conferences held in Wash
ington In which the governors of the
states and territories were the prin-
cipal conferees. At the second confer
Once, In which, on Dec. 8, President
Roosevelt and President Elect Taft
participated, representatives Of the
Canadian government were present
and they expressed interest In the con-
Bervation movement Out of that and
the general interest the people of the
United States are showing in the sub
ject grew the idea Of a North Amer
lean conference to consider mutual
interests involved in the conservation
of natural resources and to deliberate
upon the practicabillty Of preparing
general plan adapted to promote the
welfare of the nations concerned"
The Representatives designated by
the Canadian and Mexican govern
ments will under the plan consult
with representatives of the state and
other departments Of this government
and with the national conservation
commission. The main object Of the
conference, as announced, will be to
point out that natural resources are
not limited by the boundary lines which
separate nations, to develop a better
knowledge Of the natural resources Of
each nation on the part of the others
and to invite suggestions for concur
rent action for the protection of mu-
tual interests related to conservation.
The presidents letter to Lord Grey,
governor general of Canada, is in part
as follows:
ut is evident that natural resources
are not limited by the 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. 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-
tlves Of the government of Canada to
meet and consult with representatives
Of the state and other departments of
this government and the national con-
servatiol commission In the city of
Washington on Feb. 10, 1909. The pur-
pose Of the conference have the hon
or to propose is to consider mutual in
terests involved in the conservation Of
natural resources and in this great
field to deliberate upon the practical
bility Of preparing general plan
adapted to promote the welfare Of the
nations concerned.
~ have this day addressed a similar
Invitation to the republic Of Mexico,
expressing my hope that representa-
tives Of that government also will be
present and participate in the proposed
conference Of the natural resources of
North America.
1.-THE conclusions 6f such confer
ence, while wholly advisory In charac-
ter, could hardly fail to yield impor-
tant beneficial results both in better
knowledge Of the natural resources Of
each nation on the part Of the others
and In suggestions for concurrent &C.
ton for the protection Of mutual inter-
Ssts related to conservation.
"As my representative to convey to
you this letter and invitation and at
my desire to consult with you concern
ing the proposed conference have
selected an officer of this government
chief Of the United States forest serv-
Ice and chairman OF the national con-
servation commission, whom CON-
mend to your kind oficea."