wilder parts of the country, and that is what they enjoy most. It entails much patrol work, of course, particularly in the summer when we use small motorboats and travel immense distances in that connection. Just a few general words about our force that I hope may interest you. Years ago young men used to join the force to seek adventure. They now join seeking a career. We realize that police work is a career nowadays. Still a large number do join to seek adventure, particularly in the northern service and in the preventive service. Although we have lost a good deal of the glamor that went with our force, yet the work of the force presents a great variety, such as the general police work that goes on every day throughout the whole country, the criminal investigation work with its various branches, and now its scientific branch. That is one reason I am in Washington-to learn what I can from Mr. Hoover's most excellent Department of Investigation. Then we have our marine section with its vessels patroling, as I mentioned before; we have our northern service, and we have our preventive service for the prevention of smuggling. A young man can make it his life's career, as most of them nowadays do, and he can specialize in any branch that he likes. We are taking legal men onto the force, we are training some in legal duties; we are taking some of our own young bachelors of science who join the force and we are refreshing their knowledge and putting them on the scientific side of this work, endeavoring to bring the work of our force up to date. Our life is not shorn of all its romance. I am convinced of that from having to deal with a great number of intricate cases that arise between our men and the fair sex. The other day when some newspaper reporters were interviewing me they asked me about the slogan which is supposed to be ours but isn't, about always getting our man. I said, "That is not true; we get most of them, but what is true is that most of our men are got by the ladies." The newspapers rather twisted that and made it appear that we were rather egotistical, because they said we always got our women. [Laughter.] As a matter of fact I did. I am very happy to say that I am married to a very beautiful, a very long-suffering and good-natured girl from your country, and often in joking with her I refer to your country as her "late country", and she fires up at once and says there's nothing late about it. In a single year a member of our force might very well be riding horses in the West, he might then act as an observer in aircraft flying on either coast or on the Great Lakes, he might then go north and drive a dog team within the Arctic Circle, or he might be detailed to border work south of Montreal where he would have some of the most exciting experiences of his life chasing bootleggers or rum runners or dope peddlers, or he might be detailed to carry out a wild-fowl census. That is rather difficult. I don't know whether anyone here can tell us just how to do it, but that is one of the jobs of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Speaking for the delegation, and in conclusion, we Canadians are very happy to be here. We appreciate immensely the invitation from the President which brought us here. Our forces take especial inter 57282-36 est in your President. We admire him greatly, and some of us know him personally for the reason that he has his summer home in Canada at Campobello Island, and when he goes there our force has the high honor of looking after his safety and welfare. We shall benefit much, I know, by the most excellent speeches that we have heard. We shall watch with interest the solution of your difficulties in connection with the protection of wildlife. Your problem is more acute than ours. Our country is not so thickly populated and is wilder, more unsettled than yours, and therefore our problem is not so acute. I think perhaps that we started earlier to conserve our wildlife resources than you did, but we feel that we can learn much from you. I have admired tremendously the sincerity of purpose shown; it is of inestimable value, that sincerity, and I have been much struck by it in the speeches of your new president during the various meetings of the conference, and of your chairman, Mr. Silcox. They both have my greatest admiration and the admiration of our delegation for the masterful way that they have handled the difficult subjects and the difficult situations and the difficult people, sometimes, that they have had to deal with. [Applause.] I feel certain that the conference will do much good with respect to the preservation of the wild fowl, and I am positive that it will do a great deal of good for international accord and for cooperation in every branch of our lives. I was a little taken aback at the beginning of the banquet to find that my esteemed colleague from Mexico has a larger family than I. If wildlife has any recreational value, and the Secretary said it had, it appeals to both him and me very strongly. He has four girls and four boys, and I was much chagrined because I have only three of each. As we shook hands over it, he said, "We are both young men yet." [Laughter.] A concluding word to the ladies of the banquet. I was in Boston and New York quite recently judging horses at various point-topoint races, hunter trials, and horse shows, and I found that all the ladies in those two cities-I think perhaps Washington is no exception-were deeply interested in the quintuplets. I would like to tell you that they are growing, they are thriving splendidly, and I hope that we shall retain the record, but I understand that you are after that record also. Thank you. [Laughter and applause.] Chairman SILCOX. From the popular applause of Sir James' last statement I wonder whether we have accepted Canada's challenge on the matter. [Laughter.] We have with us tonight His Excellency the Ambassador of Mexico. I have asked him if he will say a few words to us, at least extend greetings. Unfortunately, by one of the printer's slips his name was not included on the program, and we have personally tendered to him our excuses, that those things happen in the general line-up of the mechanism of arranging details. He has very graciously accepted our statement and has come to the banquet and sat with us at the head table, and I would like to have him say a few words or extend greetings in such a manner as he desires to this meeting. His Excellency Señor Dr. Francisco Castillo Najera. REMARKS OF HIS EXCELLENCY SEÑOR DR. FRANCISCO CASTILLO NAJERA, AMBASSADOR FROM MEXICO His Excellency Señor Dr. FRANCISCO CASTILLO NAJERA. I have really nothing to say. I don't know very much of wildlife. Being a diplomat I don't know much about that, but Mr. Zinser, who is representing Mexico in this conference, is an expert on these matters, not only on wild animals, but as the delegate from Canada has mentioned, certain domestic animals. Instead of my taking your time, he is going to talk as an expert. I want to thank you for the kindness you have extended to me in inviting me here. That is representative of the good will manifested not only by the Government and the different sections of this country but the good will and understanding of the Republic of Mexico. You are reciprocated. I think this is one of the many manifestations of good friendship that since a few years ago has been accorded between our two countries. I only hope that this friendship will be everlasting. [Applause.] Chairman SILCOX. We appreciate sincerely Your Excellency coming to the banquet, and I think that you are rather modest in stating the charm of your country. The desire now of most Americans. since Florida has had a temperature change of 24° is finding their winter recreation in Mexico. Many of our writers have sung the charm of your country, its beauty, graciousness, and color. We are particularly glad to have had you come with us tonight and to make a few remarks on the matter of good will between both of our countries. We sincerely join with you that our relationships of good will and friendliness will be everlasting. [Applause.] As His Excellency pointed out, Señor Juan Zinser, who is the Chief of the Game Service, Department of Forestry, Game, and Fish of the Republic of Mexico, whom we have had the honor to have on our program at the auditorium, will now address us. We left him entirely free field to express himself in any way he wants.. [Applause.] ADDRESS OF SEÑOR JUAN ZINSER Señor JUAN ZINSER. Mr. Secretary, Your Excellency, Mr. Toastmaster, ladies and gentlemen. Years ago we began in Mexico the study of the conservation of wildlife, but the lack of necessary elements made it impossible to put this proposal into practice. In the beginning of 1936, by decree of President General Lazaro Cardenas, who is a great friend of nature, the Department of Forestry, Game, and Fish was established, and now it is giving special attention to all nature resources. The first point in the problem was the conservation of the forests.. This had a great importance in the conservation of the soil, controlling the rain and erosion. Without woods wildlife cannot exist,. animals have no refuge. The department has a wide problem in conservation, and especially reforestation of denuded areas. At the head of this department is Chief Miguel A. de Quevedo, who has dedicated his life to the trees, and after long years of work he has planted systems which will, in the future, prevent the destruction. of the woods. Chief Ingeniero is called in Mexico the "Apostle of Trees." The second point is the rational organization of wildlife. Wildlife needs a special law. Men make laws for themselves in relation to human life; it is necessary to make a law for wildlife, by which they will be assured the right of life and existence, especially the wild animals. Their rational preservation must be controlled in such form that the different species never shall be in danger of disappearing. The mammals and birds useful to man must be propagated. Animals which are used for food must be under special control. One of the principal points the department has in view is to avoid all game slaughter. In countries as big as Mexico, and with so many regions and with so scattered a population, it is very difficult and expensive to have the necessary vigilance, but we will have wardens at all principal points along the border and at all ports. At the entries to the cities there will be vigilance to see that all sport hunters have licenses and kill not more than they are permitted to kill. In the markets and other places where game or its products are sold, there will be a special vigilance. There now exists a regulation permitting trade in deer and its products, the meat, skin, etc. By a decree in 1936 the selling of wild duck is absolutely prohibited. [Applause.] So they can be much better controlled. In the future all regulations will be dictated to better the conditions of wildlife, and not only the department is doing its best, but also the governors of the different States are giving their help. The formation of parks, game reservations, and special refuges for migratory birds is another point of the problem of the Department of Forestry, Game, and Fish. Special attention is also given to fish by stocking rivers and lakes and strictly prohibiting all unlawful fishing. I hope that this conference will be a great success and that the programs of the three nations will work together at all points and that wildlife may help us to be better friends. [Applause.] Now, I want to express my most sincere gratitude to all who have been so kind, to all the American people who have been so hospitable and have permitted us to be with you on this occasion. I can assure you that the Mexican people will be with you, and I personally can assure you, too, that this will be one of the pleasantest remembrances of my life. [Applause.] Chairman SILCOX. You will notice by looking at your program that Jay ("Ding") Darling, who is at the head table, was not included. We didn't anticipate having him at the head table with us. [Laughter.] We thought he might be left as a free agent on the floor to take out his rapiers and have a little fencing match with Secretary Wallace. "Ding" has put in a yeoman's job in trying to bring about what I would call fusing unity into all these diversified interests which have been represented here at the Wildlife Conference. "Ding" has given of himself emotionally, dynamically, and vitally in trying to see whether or not this particular effort of ours will bring about a quality of unity, so that from now on instead of handling this whole wildlife problem in little sectors, we will have a general offensive on the whole line. |