national politics, and for this reason the members of the committee
 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 marketing
 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 affecting
 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 boundaries
 or near at hand. Other minerals are so distributed that some
parts of the world have a surplus and others a deficiency. No country
 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. International
 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 international
 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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