Evening star., 1925-08-02
United States Is Trying to Escape
Clutches of British Rubber Monopoly

below the cost ,of production. The American
manufacturers now insist that the price has
been brought far above the cost of production
which 1t has-and that continuance of the
restrictive measures only operates to exact
millions upon millions of dollars from the
American manufacturers and consumers, part
of which goes into the pockets Of the British
producers and part into the Golfers of Great
Britain. Such legislation they regard as un-
friendly, and responsible for exactions far be-
yond fair return on the investment of money.
Boiled down. Uncle Sam is compelled to pay
exorbitantly for product that has become
vitally necessary in the modern industry and
life of the country, simply because the British
nave what amounts TO monopoly or the pro-
duction, and the United States has no rubber
production
The proper answer is for Uncle Sam to pro-
duce rubber of his own, either in territory be-
longing to the United States in countries of
fitting climate nearer the United States than
the Middle East 1t may be that If the United
States can demonstrate to the British that 1t
can go ahead with such production that threat
will be sufficient to bring about a better state
of affairs. But on the other hand, there Is
every reason why this country should establish,
if possible, sources of supply of rubber which
are distinctly American Rubber is a great
essential when 1t comes to national defense.
In time Of emergency, too, the American in
dustries which are dependent upon rubber
should not be shut off from the source of sup
ply and compelled to shut down.
Two departments OF the United States Gov
ernment, acting under authority of law, today
are studying the problem seeking TO determine
now Uncle Sam can have a source of supply Of
rubber of his own, or in some Of the Latin
American countries. They are the Department
of Agriculture and the Department Of Com
merce. The production of commercial rubber
however, is not matter of overnight. 1t
quires from to years for rubber tree
to begin to yield, and it's ma xirnum yield does
not come until 1t is from 10 to IL years old.
Rubber From Other Plants.
The Department Of Agriculture is proceeding
along two lines in its Investigations. First 1t
is attempting to learn where and how in
American territory. North and Central, 1t may
be possible for the successful plantation and
growth of the Para rubber tree Hevea brasilien
sis), which is the rubber tree used for
commercial production of rubber In the great
plantations of the Middle East-Ceylon. India
and Burma, Malaya North Borneo French
Indo-China and Netherlands India. Second, 1t
is seeking to learn what other plants contain
ing rubber, of which there are not a few-may
and whether these plants may be grown in
parts Of the United States. in the Canal Zone
other territory belonging to the United
States The Philippine Islands, where some
rubber plantations already exist, may become
a great source of. supply, 1t is believed. In
deed. study of the Philippine Islands i'm this
connection has already been made by the De-.
partment of Commerce and a report is soon
to be published.
In a measure the situation with regard to
the production and consumption of sugar in
the Napoleonic era is analogous to the rubber
situation of today. In those days, more than
a hundred years ago sugar was the
great source of supply. and cane sugar was
confined in large part to the West Indies
just the rubber production largely