that prizes be granted to cattle breeders, experimental fields be 
opened, as also laboratories of analysis and a service be estab- 
lished for dealing with the yellow fever and paludinous fevers, etc. 
Such an important matter could not be solved by half- 
measures; it was necessary and even indispensable to adopt a 
plan embracing all the solutions suggested and proclaimed as 
being elements of success, thus obtaining a united plan entailing 
some complexity in its execution, it is true, yet clear and simple 
in its combined purposes. 
And this desideratum was achieved by the Feredal Law No. 
2,543 A of the fifth of January, 1912. 
MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE FEDERAL GOV- 
ERNMENT—RIO DE JANEIRO CONGRESS OF 
RUBBER—REGULATIONS OF THE NEW 
RUBBER DEFENSE ACT 
For a long time back the attention of the Brizilian Govern- 
ment has been drawn to the necessity of adopting a plan of de- 
fence for India rubber, which might solve in a practical and 
decisive manner the so-long-debated “problem of the North.” 
In August, 1911, the Minister of Agriculture, after a close 
study, made with the aid of specialists and persons having 
full knowledge of that region of the country, drew up.a project 
in the above sense and, recognizing the necessity of still hearing 
those who are most directly interested in the matter, convened a 
meeting of representatives of the State Governments, Com- 
mercial Associations and other Institutions which might lead to 
a perfect understanding of what was most advisable to do. 
The first meeting was held on August 14, and the Govern- 
ment’s plan was hailed with great applause, the same being 
approved, with slight alterations, in the last session which took 
place on the twenty-second of the same month. 
By Message of September 14, 1911, Marshal Hermes da 
Fonseca, President of the Republic, sent to the National Con- 
gress for approval, the plan duly elaborated; after being care- 
fully studied ‘by Congress it was approved and ‘converted into 
Law, under No. 2,543 A and was sanctioned on January 5; 1912. 
On April 17, 1912, Decree No. 9,521 was enacted with the 
Regulation for carrying out the meastires and’ services provided 
for in the law. of’ January. 
The measures and services prescribed by Law No. 2,543 A 
49 
