64 FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 



I have this day addressed a similar invitation to the Republic of Mex- 

 ico, expressing my hope that representatives of that Government also will 

 be present and participate in the proposed conference on the conservation 

 of the natural resources of North America. 



The conclusions of such a conference, while wholly advisory in char- 

 acter, 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 in suggestions for concurrent action for the protection of 

 mutual interests related to conservation. 



The invitations to the southern and to the two northern neighbors of 

 the United States were accepted, and the delegates of the different coun- 

 tries on the part of the United States, Gifford Pinchot, Robert Bacon, 

 James R. Garfield met at Washington, February 18, 1909, remained in 

 session five days, and drafted an important declaration of principles. 

 For present purposes it is not necessary either to quote or to summarize 

 the declaration of principles, but it is advisable to quote the conclusion 

 thereof, as it related to the call of an international conference and indi- 

 rectly to the Pan American Conservation Conference of Natural Re- 

 sources. The passage in question follows : 



The conference of delegates, representatives of the United States, Mexico, 

 Canada, and Newfoundland, having exchanged views and considered 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 become world-wide in its scope, 

 and therefore suggests to the President of the United States of America 

 that all Nations should be invited to join together in conference on the 

 subject of world resources and their inventory, conservation, and wise 

 utilization. 



Anticipating the recommendation of the conference and appreciating 

 the benefits which would result from an international conference com- 

 posed of the nations at large, represented by competent and experienced 

 agents of their own choice, an aide-memoire, dated January 6, 1909, was 

 sent to the various Governments, in order to learn whether they would 

 look with favor upon an invitation to send delegates to participate in 

 such a conference. 



The replies were so uniformly favorable that President Roosevelt, 

 deeply interested in such matters, lent more than a willing ear to the 

 suggestion, and on February 19, 1909, the Honorable ROBERT BACON, 

 then Secretary of State of the United States, by direction of the Pres- 

 ident, and with the concurrence of the Netherland Government, sent a 



