national politics, and for this reason the members of the com- 
mittee wish to emphasize the fact that they speak as individuals 
and not as representatives of any bodies with which they happen 
to be officially connected. 
In the interest of efficient and conservational use of the world’s 
mineral resources and in minimizing international difficulties 
arising from the discovery, development, transportation and market- 
ing of mineral resources, the Committee on Foreign and Domestic 
Mining Policy of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America 
offers a statement of elemental considerations which it believes 
should be basic to the formulation of laws and agreements affect- 
ing natural resources. 
I. International Mineral Movements Are Necessary Consequences of Their 
Geographic Distribution 
Mineral resources are wasting assets fixed geographically by 
nature, and change in this geographic distribution is not within 
our power. Some kinds of minerals are so widely distributed that 
nearly all countries have adequate supplies within their own bound- 
aries or near at hand. Other minerals are so distributed that some 
parts of the world have a surplus and others a deficiency. No coun- 
try is entirely self-sufficing in regard to either supplies or markets 
for all mineral commodities; in every country certain minerals 
are available in excess for export, while others are deficient and 
must be imported either in crude or manufactured forms. Inter- 
national exchange of minerals cannot be avoided if all parts of 
the world are to be supplied with needed materials. 
The general nature and location of the fixed channels of inter- 
national mineral exchange are not matters of conjecture; they are 
capable of reasonablv definite statement. 
2. International Movement of Certain Minerals Cannot be Stopped by 
Enactment 
The necessary international movements of minerals may be 
aided or hindered by bonuses, preferential duties, tariffs, and 
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