260 THE FUTURE OF ARID LANDS 
This sponsored research has been most fruitful in acquiring 
fundamental data needed to evaluate the many proposed desalting 
methods. The five-year plan of research and development being 
administered in this country by the Saline Water Conversion 
Program is, as far as possible, being coordinated with similar work 
elsewhere in the world. In several countries abroad, private and 
government supported technical groups are engaged in research 
on saline water conversion methods. Among these are the Na- 
tional Council for Applied Scientific Research (T.N.O.) in The 
Netherlands, the Admiralty Materials Laboratory in England, 
and others in France, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, North 
Africa, the Middle East, Italy, Australia, Union of South Africa, 
and elsewhere. Widespread interest in such research has been 
promoted throughout the world by the United Nations Educa- 
tional, Scientific, and Cultural Organization and related activities. 
In many respects the general program of research in other 
areas parallels the extensive research now in progress in this 
country. Much has been accomplished both here and abroad. 
Regardless of these accomplishments, the financial aid provided 
has been meager, considering the magnitude of the water needs 
in arid and semi-arid regions throughout the world. 
Status of International Cooperation 
The need for cooperative action between nations on matters 
of saline water conversion is recognized. This is evidenced by the 
sponsorship by UNESCO and others organizations of meetings, 
such as the present assembly, for the exchange of ideas and in- 
formation. 
In addition to these sessions, there is currently a fairly active 
exchange of data by technical press releases, by individual 
correspondence, and by reporting of research activities in many 
countries. 
An example of realistic cooperative effort was the recent survey 
trip made by a United States mission, representing the Saline 
Water Conversion Program, to Europe and Northwest Africa. 
The purposes of the visit were: (2) to examine the work under- 
way and that proposed in connection with the Organization for 
