The Washington times., 1923-03-09
RUBBER MEN To
FIGHT BRITISH
MONOPOLY
Opposing Views of U. s. inter-
ests ReconciIed and Co
operation Is Assured. ).
BY ROBERT 8. THORNBURGH,
International News Service Staff
CmPraamOmdamk

By ROBERT 8. THORNBURGH,
International News Service staff
Correspondent.
Opposing views OF the rubber in
terests as to methods TO be pursue'
by the United States to break tn
British monopoly have been adjustc'
and both factions are cooperating
with the Department Of Commerce
looking to an extensive production o
crude rubber under American con
troll.
This was gathered today from al
outline OF the rubber situation giveT
the international News Service BIZ
Assistant Secretary Of Commerce.
Huston, who last year made trif
through the Orient to investigate pro
duction for Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover.
d. s. viii Not Protest.
1.-THE United States Government
will make no protest to Great
Britain against the prohibitive rub
| Der export tax, that being as OBJ
vi0usly ufl-diplomatic as q British
representation against our tariff,
Huston declared.
Conferences are being held with
the rubber interests by the Govern.
ment. Our object is to pave the
way Tor the safe entry Of American
capital into various countries, look
Ing to rubber production on q scale
hopes eventually to meet our de-
mAnds."
Huston pointed out rubber pro-
ducers have found the majority of
their troubles In foreign countries,
| especially South America. have arts.
| en- from excessive export taxes and
other expenses handicapping produc'
| ton.
/ Taxes and other causes have re
/ suited n great shrinkage Of produc
ton in South Ameriea and an ex
pansion in the Ear East" Huston
said.
I'm some cases an export tax OF
30 per cent has been charged against
rubber exported from South America
whereas in other countries . tax Of
per cent has not retarded the In
duatfy."
These laandicaps must be removed
probably into South America, &C
cording to Huston.
May Draw Up Treaties.
While he did not discuss thu
methods to be pursued. 1t was
thought likely diplomatic action By
the State Department might brine
about the signature of reciprocal
commercial treaties between United
| States and the nations Of South
America where conditions are adj
vantageous to the growing Of rubber
plants.
! Favorable conditions are af
torded by Great Britain and the
/ Dutch provinces for rubber produc
] ton, a normal tax of per cent
j being charged against exports,
Huston said. "The prohfbitive tax
lnaugurated by Great Britain on
exports in excess of so per cent
/ Of the 1921 crop should not be
confused with the normal tax
/ The United States and the Good
| rich rubber corporations have large
holdings in the Dutch East indies
but production is not sufficient to
meet their consumption. These
| companies are said to be inter
ested in American production.
The Department of Commerce
continued, it's movement to bring
about sufficient American rubber
| production to meet the require
ments of United States, prior to the
drive Of certain manufacturers
toward this end, it was learned.
! Secretary Hoover sought en- APP
| preparation from Congress to con
duct the rubber investigation before
| the British prohibitive tax, which
created the monopoly. was adopted
| Congress answered with $4,000
to probe production and marketing
Of raw products, under which the
rubber investigation is being made