Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1909

File No. 20272/1.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Merry.

Department of State,
Washington, July 2, 1909.

No. 826.]

Sir: I have to inform you that, at the instance of the Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics, I have transmitted to each diplomatic mission of the United States in the Western Hemisphere copies in English and Spanish of the call issued by the International Sanitary Bureau for the assembling of the Fourth International Sanitary Convention, with a circular instruction, of which I enclose a copy, directing that the mission’s good offices be used to induce the Government in whose capital it is situated to be represented at the convention.

I enclose copies of the call, in English and Spanish.

I am, etc.,

Huntington Wilson.

[Inclosure.]

Call for the fourth international sanitary convention.

In accordance with the resolution adopted at the Third International Sanitary Convention, held in the city of Mexico, December 2–7, 1907, the date December 25, 1909, to January 2, 1910, has been fixed for the assembling of the Fourth International Sanitary Convention in the city of San Jose, Costa Rica.

The following official correspondence in regard to the call and the provisional program of the convention are printed in the interest of the convention:

International Sanitary Bureau,
Washington, U. S. A., June 12, 1909.

Hon. John Barrett,
Director Bureau American Republics, Washington, D. C.

Sir: In accordance with the resolution adopted at the Second International Sanitary Convention of American Republics authorizing biennial conventions, and in accordance with the action taken at the last convention in Mexico City, December, 1907, I inclose herewith a call for the Fourth International Sanitary Convention of the American Republics to meet in Costa Rica December 25, 1909, to January 2, 1910.

In accordance with paragraph 7 of the resolutions relating to international sanitary police, adopted at the Second International Conference of American States in Mexico, January 29, 1902, I have to request that you take such measures as you deem advisable to make announcement of this call.

It is also requested that the Bureau of American Republics in making this announcement also make representations to the Government of Costa Rica in order that there shall be issued through its Department of Foreign Relations invitations to the several countries to be represented.

Respectfully,

Walter Wyman,
Chairman, International Sanitary Bureau.

Fourth International Sanitary Convention of the American Republics, to be Held in San Jose, Costa Rica, December 25, 1909, to January 2, 1910.

International Sanitary Bureau of the American Republics,
Washington, D. C., June 14, 1909.

In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Second International Sanitary Convention of the American Republics, which authorizes biennial conventions, and in accordance with the action taken at the Third International Sanitary Convention, it is hereby announced that the Fourth International Sanitary Convention of the American Republics will be held in San Jose, Costa Rico, December 25, 1909, to January 2, 1910.

It is respectfully urged that every Republic of the Western Hemisphere be represented at this convention, both those that have been heretofore represented and those which have not taken part in the previous conventions.

In accordance with resolutions adopted at previous conventions, there will be considered practical means for the adoption of measures intended to obtain the sanitation of cities and especially of ports. This subject has, therefore, been included in the provisional program, which has been prepared by the President-elect of the coming convention with the view to continuing the work of previous conventions.

Provisional Program for the International Sanitary Convention of the American Republics to be Held in San Jose, Costa Rica, December 25, 1909, to January 2, 1910.

1. Reports presented by the different delegates in regard to the sanitary regulations and laws adopted, and in force, in their respective countries, since the last meeting.

2. Special report by each official delegate regarding the manner in which the resolutions adopted in the three previous conventions have been put into practice, in their respective countries.

3. Reports in regard to sanitary conditions in ports, and measures proposed for the improvement of such sanitary conditions (with special reference to the principal ports).

4. Reports relating to the registration of the movement of population and the rate of mortality in each country, specifying those of ports and principal cities.

5. Sanitation of cities and especially of ports.

6. Measures for the protection of passengers that embark in vessels from infected ports.

7. Discussion of measures against the introduction of diseases not included in the Convention of Washington of 1905.

8. Sanitary models or forms to be adopted by Nations forming part of this convention.

9. Discussion on sanitary measures relating to yellow fever, bubonic plague, tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases, in conformity to new discoveries, or experiences.

10. Discussion on measures relating to venereal diseases.

11. Discussion on the necessity of the adoption, by the European Nations, of the convention of Washington and other sanitary measures subsequently adopted by this convention with respect to such colonies as they have in America.

12. Discussion on new discoveries with respect to the transmission of yellow fever and malaria, besides the mosquito bite.

13. Organization in each country represented at this convention of a commission of three physicians or health officers to act as delegates of the International Sanitary Bureaus of Washington or Montevideo, and to form part of the International Sanitary Information Committee of the American Republics.

By direction of the International Sanitary Bureau of the American Republics.

Walter Wyman, Chairman.

Juan J. Ulloa, Secretary.

As requested in the communication of Dr. Walter Wyman, chairman of the International Sanitary Bureau, the director of the International Bureau of the American Republics has addressed a letter to the diplomatic representatives of the countries interested in the convention transmitting a copy of the call and the provisional program, which has also been given to the press and will be printed in the Bulletin of the Bureau.