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THE CONFERENCE
of Non-Aiigned Nations
held in Algiers in
September 19
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(above) highlighted the
Third World desire for
resource control. This
trend gained momentum
at the recent U.N.
conference on raw
materials where
Algeria 's president
urged poorer nations to
nationalize their
natural resources and
fix prices for them.
The Colquiri tin mine in
Bolivia (right) is one
of many in the
Third Worfd.
Top, Henri Bureau - Sygma;
bottom, Loren MclntyrtJ -
Woodfin Camp
&
Associlltes
and militarily, weak nations have
never been able to exert dominance
over strong countries for very long.
While the developed world
in
gen–
eral continues to support the ideals
of liberal anti-colonialism, an em–
bargo of vital resources could
change the situation.
At such a point , more than one
big Westem economic power might
be tempted to use "gunboat diplo–
macy" to secure vital supplies.
A Struggle Between t h e
Industrial izad Powers, Too
Resource shortages raise the pos–
sibility of trade-war-type embargoes
among the Western nations them–
selves. The United States has just
enough domestic copper, iron ore,
steel scrap and plastics to be
tempted to shut off exports of these
PLAIN TRUTH June-July 1974
materials or tbe goods made out of
them - if it should ever reach a
tight economic bind. Since a good
portion of cattle feed consumed in
Western Europe is made from
American soybeans (and America
has already demonstrated a willing–
ness to cut off those soybeans),
European nations would, as a con–
sequence, be forced to diplomat–
ically isolate the United States from
Third World countries in Africa and
Latín America. For example. they
might offer these na tions much bet–
ter prices for thei r resources, more
foreign aid and political support in
the U.N.
American commentators have
noted that the political loss of Latín
America may someday doom the
U. S. to "industrial starvation."
Much of America's raw material
needs are supplied from south of its
borders. In a world hard pressed for
raw materials, other industrial pow–
ers are buying more from this re–
gion.
" In the long Run ..."
Natural resource wealth has al–
ways been associated with national
power. The Middle East, Greece,
Spain, France, Britain, Belgium,
Germany, Sweden and the United
States aU were once the world's big–
gest producer of at least one major
metal - only to face exhaustion or
depletion of it. Germany has been
Europe's leading producer of lead,
zinc and silver; Belgium ofzinc; and
Britain of lead, copper, tin and iron.
The resource crisis will probably
cause a transfer of political power
from rich industrial nations to the
poorer underdeveloped wo rld.
Whether this transfer can be accom–
plished peacefully is doubtful.
A U. S. government agency has
already lent credence to the idea
that the resource shortage is one of
the world's gravest problems. The
U. S. Geological Survey warns "not
merely affiuence, but world civ–
ilizations" are in danger because of
the drain of world resources.
Today nations act in their own
self-interests. l nternational coopera–
tion and the idea of resource–
sharing. even though given lip–
service, are forgotten concepts.
The general peace in the world
since World War
JI
has been fed by
prosperity. When nations grow eco–
nomicaliy. they are less inclined to
covet their neighbor's wealth. But
Jet a scarcity of resources threaten
that prosperity and countries will
adopt radical, even warlike mea–
sures. With the end of a mineral
joyride in sigbt. human greed, which
may be muted
in
good times, threat–
ens to surface at the internatíonal
leve
l.
In a world of nuclear weapons,
anything which gives nations cause
for war is cause for alarm. And it is
a warning signa! tbat the bíblica!
"end times" are upon us.
o
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