Evening star., 1933-07-30
American Industries
Dependent Upon Tin
BY HARDEN COIEAY
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

The international tin cartel to con-
troll production, which was in effect for
two years ending in February and was
then continued by common consent, ran
into difficulties this week when an ef-
fort to renew it formally was made by
the International Tin Committee.
Representatives of the five tin-pro-
ducing countries-Bolivia, the Dutch
East Indies, Nigeria, Siam and the
been operating this cartel since early in
1881. have been holding conversations
with a view to renewal of their
agreement for another period of two
years. The International Tin Commit
tee is anxious to renew its restrictive
agreement and to include certain coun-
tries which were not in the original
pact but which. by keeping out, might
wreck the scheme.
Authorities on tin, both in and out
Of the Federal Government. are inclined
to believe that the international tin
cartel is approaching the rocks.
As organized this pool had for It's
purpose the ALLEGATION OF production
and was controlled by exports by u
cense. The cartel controlled more than
IS per cent of the worlds production.
At the time of the formation OF the
nLerIaClOIldl I'LL CdiI ICA, eAAS
visible supply of tin was more than
double the normal. An independent
syndicate was formed known as the
International Tin Pool. This organi-
zation announced, on August II, 1881
the purchase of more than 81 900 tons
of the then visible supply. It was
agreed that the tin SO held would be
reduced as market conditions warranted
and certain stipulations were entered
into. The rise in tin prices, owing to
exchange fluctuations and general busi-
ness conditions all over the world. has
now made it possible for this pool to
realize a handsome profit.
The interest of the American bust
ness man in this arises from the fact
that, during recent years, imports OF
tin into the United States have been
our most valuable mineral shipment
from foreign countries. We need large
quantities of tin for the manufacture
of tin and terne plate, babbitt and
bearing metals and solder. AS coat
ing in the manufacture OF food con-
tainers it has up to the present proved
to be Indispensable Our vast canning
and automobile industries are absolutely
dependent on tin. But we produce
practically none OF this eSSentlai. SlnCe
our national history began we have
produced less than $500 tons OF tin.
Each year we need some 5000 tons,
and our bill for this varies from $685.
600 900 to 500. .000. 900.
The United States is the largest con-
sumner of tin in the world and is al
most entirely dependent upon foreign
sources for its supplies of this mineral.
The economic experts tell US that
America can hope to be self-sufncient
eventually in respect to all basic raw
materials except three-cofee, tea and
tin. These we cannot produce, nor, 50
far, have we been able to hit upon any
satisfactory substitutes for them. Alaska
is the chief domestic producer Of tin.
with small quantities coming from Call
fornia and South Dakota.
Most of the tin output comes from
British Malaga. The British Empire
now controls politically more than 55
per cent Of the world tin production
and, through smelters and ref1neries
commercially controlled by its nationals
handles more than 81 per cent Of the
world total production of metallic tin.