The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-27
BRITISH RUBBER
MONOPOLY To
BEFOUGHT
200 American Tire Makers
Meet in D. c. to Formulate
Plans for Campaign.
By ROBERT s. THORNBURGH,
International News Service.

International News Service.
Determined to break the Brit
ish rubber monopoly, which viii
cost the American public more
than 5000, 900, 900 this, year, 200
leading automobile and tire manu-
facturers met in Washington to-
day to lay the ground work Of q
campaign to shift the crude rub
Der production Of the world from
control Of British to American in
terests.
Fight Price Boost.
American-baclzed rubber planta-
tons in the Philippines and in
South America is the answer the
manufacturers hope to make to
England's restriction OF production
and expectation OF rubber, which
bounced the price from Is to 40
cents pound in four months.
"A handful Of capitalists in Great
Britain control IS per cent Of the
worlds crude rubber production"
Harvey s. Firestone, a promoter Of
the conference. said to the Interna-
tional News Service today.
I'VE hope, with the cooperation
Of English. French and italian pro-
ducers, to prove to the British gov.
eminent its restriction act is in
iquitot1s, unsound, uneconomicaI
and uncalled for. We want that
act repealed. British plantation
owners were making a liberal
profit before the law went into
effect.
Seek Government Aid.
'"This conference wants to show
the American Government the adj
visibility of encouraging American
capital to invest in rubber planta-
tons in the Philippines and South
America. The southern continent,
producing crude rubber on a big
scale, would find ready market
at its front door. Solid commercial
relations would be perpetual between
the two Americas"
Automobile manufacturers point
ed out the more than 200 per cent
increase in rubber costs may result
in a big curtailment Of tire and
motor vehicle sales, unless remedial
measures are found at once.
The rubber advance will mean a
complete revision of automobile
prices for spring delivery. Increased
cost of automobiles, as q result, was
fixed at from IL to IS per cent.
Within ten years a sufficient
supply Of rubber could be under
production in the Philippines and
in South America to meet the re-
quirements OF American manufac-
turers, leaders at the conference
believed. Millions Of acres in the
Philippines, where the climate is
ideal for the industry, were de-
clared to be available.
Want Laws Revised.
In "the islands," however, it
would be necessary to bring about
a revision of the land and labor
laws, since holdings by one corpo-
ration of the extensive tracts need
ed for rubber cultivation is pro-
hibited. This would be arranged
WITHOUT UL1lCuIIy IA1Ou6A IAO wv
eminent, 1t was thought.
Firestone outlined the purposes
of the conference when the manu-
facturers assembled at the New
Willard Hotel this morning. He
said by personal investigation he
learned the British restriction act
did not have the support of leading
economists, manufacturers and the
public of England, but was ''the
result of political influence Of q
group of rubber planters who de-
sired it for seemingly selfish
reasons
1.-THE British tax cuts production
and raises prices" Firestone said.
"It is a blow at a man of limited
means who maintains an autOmo-
bile. It means higher cost of Oper-
alton Of commercial trucks, and