DEMINERALIZATION OF SALINE WATERS 261 
European Economic Cooperation, cooperative research projects 
by the three nations, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and 
France for the purpose of ascertaining the extent, if any, to which 
the United States might participate; and (@) to exchange in- 
formation on salt water conversion techniques, needs, and eco- 
nomics with those engaged in this field in Europe and northwest 
Africa. 
The report of the mission (3) is highly informative on current 
research and progress in the areas visited. The observers’ findings 
warrant thoughtful study for guiding saline water conversion 
activities elsewhere, since they highlight the merits and limitations 
of many processes. European knowledge and progress in the 
design and efficiency of certain apparatus may be more advanced 
than our own along some lines. 
Because of divergent viewpoints and approaches to the overall 
programs, close cooperation and coordination of effort between 
all research groups in this field should be encouraged and strength- 
ened. This should apply not only to exchange of fundamental 
data, but should be extended to cross-licensing of patentable 
devices and through other contractual arrangement in the best 
interests of all groups. It may be that an international commission 
or patent committee can be established and directed by UNESCO, 
or other coordinating agency, to bring about a reasonable and 
acceptable program for mutual action in this field. 
Conversion Processes—Past, Present, and Future 
To many people, especially in this country, the idea of con- 
version of sea water into fresh water is an Aladdin’s lamp concept 
and is of recent origin. This has tremendous popular appeal. This 
attitude ignores the many complications involved and the high 
cost of realizing this objective. It is impossible accurately to 
chronicle the history of man’s effort to separate fresh from salt 
water, but undoubtedly it dates back to antiquity. Credit is given 
by Hample (2) to Sir Richard Hawkins for the first successfully 
operated distilling apparatus, as early as 1593. Undoubtedly, un- 
recorded efforts to secure usable water by miscellaneous means 
long predated this recorded accomplishment. 
