processes for their use may not be developed without excessive cost.
If so, some measure of protection would be reasonable. For instance,
there are very extensive deposits of flake graphite in the United
States, many of which are handicapped by a fineness of texture
which is said to make them undesirable for one of their principal
uses, the manufacture of crucibles. War experience indicated that
the American grades could be used to a larger extent than had
before been anticipated; but with the resumption of peace condi-
tions, foreign supplies have again dominated the market. Without
committing ourselves definitely for or against a tariff, we suggest
that a case of this kind affords a reasonable field for investigation
as to the possible application of a tariff.
Coneclusion
This statement of principle emphasizes nature’s distribution of
minerals as a basic factor in determining the international move-
ments of minerals, It does not attempt to cover all the qualifying
economic factors in the situation.
These considerations are presented from the point of view pri-
marily of the broad self-interest of the mineral industry of the
United States, but they are also vital to the preservation of friendly
international relations. We are confident that a common under-
standing of these elementary facts of geographic distribution of
minerals, and of the consequent necessary mineral movements
determined by nature, is an important first step in minimizing
international difficulties.
The interests and ambitions of the different parts of the mineral
industry in foreign matters are so extremely diverse, and each of
them is urged so vigorously that it is difficult to discern what, if
any, are the underlying aims and principles of the industry as a
whole. The industry itself is presumably better qualified to speak
on these matters than others, and yet to the public its represent-
ations must sound like a babel of special interests. This is perhaps
an inevitable consequence of the scattered geographic development
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