New-York tribune., 1918-07-29
Mines Bureau and
War Board Agree
officials Not Excited Over
Colombia's Intention to
Hold Up Supply
By Theodore M. Knappen


manufacture of jewelry is impending,
and 1T will be preceded or accompanied
by licensing system which will reach
every dealer in or consumer of plati-
nun in the country.
The War Industries Board and the
Bureau of Mines, which have been &C
credited with varying views and have
had conflicting views on the subject,
have effected a virtual union of powers
and procedure through the appoint
ment of Hennen Jennings, of the
bureau, to membership in the boards
platinum committee, and special joint
committee is dealing with the subject
of licenses and regulations.
1t has been decided that the policies
determined upon by the War Industries
Board will be carried out by the Bu-
reau of Mines
In consequence of this harmonious
arrangement the government will
hencefortn have a fixed policy and a
united front on the delicate platinum
question, which seems to be loaded with
pOSSlUllltlcS CQaC lnCluQG a
range from pro-German finger rings and
munitions 10 intervention in Russia
and all international hold-up by Colon
bla, and has even led to some polite
criticism from our allies.
War of Platinum
In many critical aspects this is a
war of platinum, and the world is try
ing to do more with less platinum
than ever before. If the pacifsts could
corner the supply they would accom-
pllsh more toward terminating the war
by sinking it to the bottom of the
ocean than 10000 soap box orators
could do in a million years
On account of the important use of
platinum in the manufacture of ex-
pioslves, which are under the general
direction of the Bureau of Mines, Con-
gress early in the war expressly en-
dowed the bureau with the power to
limit its sale, possession and use. as
we'll as those of palladium and iridium.
On the other hand the War Indus
tries Board has taken general charge
of the whole domain of raw materials,
including metals. especially in the mat
ter of prices, by virtue of Presidential
authority
An outcome of this conflict of au-
tnorlty has been certain divergence
OF views and policies, that has resulted
IN feeling getting abroad that the
board was belittling the subject and was
proceeding on penny wise pound fool =
lsh commercial policy without true
understanding of the world platinum
situation or sufficient appreciation of
its critical Importance in the success
ful conduct of the war
Conflicting Activities
Some of the scientists connected
with the Bureau of Mines and also with
the Bureau of Standards have been al
most panicky over the platinum out
look. They have thought that the
shortage was SO great that the govern
1nent was derelct in not commander
ing all the platinum in the country, in
Guiding that in the manufactured form.
Van H. Manning, director of the
mines bureau. has even made a public
appeal to the women of the country to
refrain from buying platinum jewelry,
but at the same time the War Indus
tries Board permits jewellers to sell it,
and after communicating all the plat-
mum bullion released 25 per cent of it
to the jewellers, so that even the manu-
facture of such jewelry has not vet
been stopped.
Then there have been conflicting
views IN some quarters as to the ma
tlonal policy toward Colombia which is
the only important producer of platinum
outside OF Russia. A bill has passed
the lower house of the Colombian Con-
tO mako tho LOT
national monopoly. The idea behind
the bill, which will doubtless become a
law is to give the Colombian govern
ment a means OF putting the screws
on the United States in order to
force the righting of the Panama
wrong" by the ratification of the treaty
giving Colombia $25,00O,0O0 and an
apology for the loss of Panama. and
also to enforce better means OF war
time communication between Colombia
and the rest of the world
Would Hold Control
The Colombians claim that, as a con-
sequence of the diversion of shipping
the United States has practically shut
item out of international trade, with
the result that they are almost as
sequestered as Germany. With Russia
largely in German control, the Colon
blanS reckon that, with the only other
aappreciable source of platinum in their
hands, the United States will have to
come to their terms. In the meantime
1T said, much of Colombia's platinum is
being smuggled to Germany. and
Colombia has become a notorious base
Tor German propaganda.
he War Industries Board, whether
rightly or wrongly, has refused to get
excited over Colombia or over the plat
mum situation in general. 1t is &C
credited with estimating that the
united States has enough raw plati-
mum on hand to last through this year
and we'll into next. Moreover, it has
considered that the economic ramifica-
tions of the jewelry trade are so great
that it would not be wise to upset it by
communicating manufactured pati-
mum, which is largely carried on money
borrowed from the banks.
10 attempt to cut off commerce in
platinum altogether in hurry would
have disastrous effect on all forms
or Jewelry business, and though that
might be considered the most obviously
essential of all industries, there
are certain deep-lying psychological
considerations which make it advisable
not to take steps that will injure the
business, even though it seems to be
having more than its share of wartime
prosperity in some sections.
Then, too, platinum manufactured
INTO Jewelry is worth many times the