New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
RUBBER SHORTAGE
NO LONGER FEARED
British Embargo Raised
as Far as This Country
Is Concerned.
COMMODITY WILL
ENTER UNDER BOND
g. B. Work, of Akron, Instru.
mental In Planning Resump.
ton of Needed Shipments.

'ioH VI Neeueu oHlpmentS.
Motorists may breathe freely again.
There is not going to be famine in
tires. neither will there be a boos. In
prices that will make motoring pro-
hibitiye. London has approximately
1900 tons Of crude rubber. the great
est supply it has had in years, and not
only can America have all il wants,
but shipments will come forward with
only enough red tape TO insure that
there will be no reshipment that will
result in supply going 10 Germany
or other countries now ~ war with
Great Britain and her allies.
Some time ago Great britain placed
an embargo on crude rubber, and the
automobile industry in this country
was face TO face with a shortage, with
greatly advanced prices on the supplies
now held here and with the rubber in
dustry adding thousands 10 the throngs
Of unemployed. As a matter OF fact,
Akron. Ohio, the centre Of the rubber
industry in America, has already made
big additions to the ranks Of the un-
employed, q condition that will quickly
be remedied.
Knowing that the embargo had not
stopped shipments of crude from the
Far Eastern plantations 20 London, the
Rubber Club of America a few weeks
ago appointed a committee TO take up
the matter Of replenishing the supply
As a member of this committee, Is. u.
Work, president of the b. +. Goodrich
Company, of Akron, was appointed TO
20 to London to look into the matter
at first hand.
On his arrival in London Mr.. Work
found his task greatly simplihed, as
few DAYS earlier the British govern
ment had decided to raise the embargo
under certain conditions. He was able.
however, to supply information that
was of great value in accelerating the
work. and IL was in the nature OF
personal triumph that the Lusltania, on
which he returned, should also have
carried a considerable quantity OF
crude rubber TO this country.
Through letter OF introduction from
the British Ambassador at Washington
and the personal introduction OF Wal
ter II. Page, American Ambassador in
London, Mr.. Work was able to get IN
touch at once with Sir William Tyr
rell, of the British Foreign Office, and
through him, with Sir Francis Hop
wood, of the Admiralty. Numerous IN,
teryiews with the last named resulted
in an agreement by which rubber en-
tering this country will come under
bonds. signed by Goodrich and two
other Of the big American importers,
auainet rpshlDmpnt.
at was also arranged in behalf OF
the entire American rubber industry,
said Mr.. Work, that the release OF
shipments should not be confined simp-
" TO the great firms who were prepared
TO rive bonds Of any amount, but that
even the smallest importer OF rubber
could get what rubber he needed by
shipping IL consigned jointly to the
dealer or manufacturer and a British
hank in New York. Subject TO the APP
proyal of the British Consul General,
the rubber is then released on the basis
Of a guarantee signed by the importer.
"The delay in making shipments has
not been due 70 any lack of desire on
the part of Sir Francis Hopwood to re-
lieye the situation. On the contrary,
the attitude of the British government
Is strongly in favor Of helping trade
in rubber just as much as possible,
while at the same time protecting us
own interests as a belligerent. What
delay there has been was simply IN
cident to the amount OF time necessary
to set up the machinery to handle the
matter.
"As the general committee appointed
to pass on permits is deluged win
work, it was arranged 70 have speelal
committee of five solely Tor RUBBER
nermits. This committee is made up
of three we'll known business men ana
two special representatives OF the huo-
Der Trade Association.
"Before left, Sir Francis predicted
that in a very short time no one wouia
have any trouble or meet with any de,
lays in procuring their supplies. told
him that at our end we would Ake
every precaution possible 10 carry ouI
their requirements.
ale further stated that any one who
comes under suspicion will simply
be unable TO get Q permit, but those
who carry out the agreement IN GOOD
faith will be able TO get all the rubber
thew need. Sir Francis also said that
IL in the beginning the American rub
Der trade had worked with them direct
instead of through the State Depart
ment, we could have been OF material
assistance in having the embargo
raised much sooner.
"The rubber interests in London are
80 large, our market Is so important,
and the attitude Of the British govern
ment is SO strongly in favor OF help
ing and not hindering trade, that do
not believe we need fear any further
interruption beyond the first unavoid-
able delays. $1,000,
at is hard for any one not immedi-
ately connected with the rubber indus
try to appreciate how tense and chaotic
conditions were just before the em-
barge was raised, and how much worse
thev would have been il the situation
had not been relieved. The first result
~ the raising OF the embargo was
drop Of 25 cents a pound on Brazilian
rubber. Within a week or SO exports,
tions amounting to s25OOOo daily VIII
be released"