Evening star., 1934-12-23


curement plans for each of the stra-
tegic and critical raw materials which
do not exist in this country in sum-
cient quantity to meet war require
ments, have already been put in op-
Grafton. Each of these materials
has been assigned to a supply branch
for study" he said. THE estimated
requirements of the Army, Navy and
civilian industry are balanced against
the quantity Of the material that is
likely to be available in this country
on M day, and a definite plan is SUBJ
mitted for overcoming the deficiency"
The deficiency existing today is at
tributed to the long continued de-
preston, nor is it confined alone to
commercial stocks on hand in this
country, for the War Departments
existing stock of munitions is reported
to be too old and requiring replace
ment.
Manganese Imported.
Among the strategic raw materials
imported from abroad is manganese,
ferro grade.
More than IS per cent Of the worlds
production of steel is manufactured in
the United States, France, Germany
and England. Not one of these coun-
tries has within its boundaries man.
ganese deposits of sufficient size to
produce its requirements OF man
ganese.
The principal sources Of manganese
are Russia, India, Brazil and Cuba.
China has large deposits in the prov
inces of Kiangsi, Human, Kwangtung
and Kwangsi.
Camphor. an essential in the manu-
facture of gun powder, is almost en-
tirely under japanese control.
In the field of substitutes is syn
thetic rubber, now produced also by
Duprene. According to Government
records. the only other company sue
cessfully producing artificial rubber
is located in New Jersey. It's product
is known as Thiokol Test by the
War Department has shown that
either Of these products reSists solv-
ents better than natural rubber, but
so far tests to determine its value
for motor vehicle tire purposes are
not conclusive.
Would Not Be Lacking.
Should war emergency exist, the
United Sttaes would not be lacking
in either artificial camphor or arti-
fetal rubber, but army officers claim
that it is the delay in acquiring ade-
quate stocks. together with the greatly
increased cost of production under
war pressure, that should be avoided
by peace time procurement or some
arrangement for speedy manufacture
provided
The following is a list of so-called
strategic raw materials:
Antimony, camphor, chromium,
cocoanut shells, coffee. hides. iodine,
jute, manganese, Manila fibre, mica.
nickel, nitrates. nux vomica, opium,
platinum. quicksilver, quinine, rub
Der. shellac. silk. sisal. sugar, tin and
wool The listed critical materials
are: Copper, kapok. airplane spruce.
white phosphorus, tanning materials
and lead.
At the present time domestic anti
mony is produced by only one smelter,
at Laredo. Tex, using Mexican ores.
Chromium exists in the Rocky
Mountain States. We can get it in
sufficient quantities but it would be
expensive and greatly delayed.
Cocoanut shells, an imported prod
uct, is used to make charcoal to be
used in gas masks, but a substitute
can be made from charred fruit pits
obtainable from California and other
fruit canneries.
Iodine can be obtained from Chile
nitrates or even from the brine of
exhausted oil wells.
Higher Costs Cited.
Mica can be obtained here, but it
is a question of labor cost, on the
basis of a 50 labor charge in this
country as compared with 20 cents
abroad.
Quicksilver can be obtained in sufi-
cient quantities but it will be subject
to delay and higher cost than that
imported.
In place Of shellac. synthetic resin
is taking its place.
Large stocks of silk are available
in this country, but If difficulty is
experienced in getting silk from
abroad cellulose rayon can be used.
In place of kapok a bakelite sponge
can be used for filling life preservers
and cushions. Kapok is preferred be-
cause OF its superior non-absorbent
quality.
Tanning materials are oak bark,
quebracho from South America, and
sumac from Italy.
Sumac attracts attention to a long
abandoned farming side line in this
country. 1t grows wild on unculti-
waited lands in a large part of the
United States and is especially abund-
ant east of the Mississippi. Not more
than 80 or 40 miles from Washing
ton, in the nearby Blue Ridge hills
of Virginia, thousands of acres are
covered with sumac which could be
gathered and used In the tanning
industry. That from Italy usually
comes from Sicily and Is Of excellent
quality because Of the care taken in
curing. The value of imported sumac
runs into millions of dollars annually.
Provides for Relations.
In the military plan, provision Is
made for foreign relations section,
its duties being to maintain contacts
with Government agencies Of foreiei.
countries, either direct as in the case
of allied missions or through the State
Department, and with agencies of our
Government having to do with for
eign peoples or materials. It takes
such action in conjunction with those
agencies as may be proper and prac-
ticable to stimulate the importations
and expectations required in further
ance of the military program.
The five outstanding factors in the
foreign trade policy of the United
States during q war would be, says
the War Plan:
l. Conservation Of domestic sup
plies for the use Of the United States
and the allied nations.
2. Encouragement to the importa-
ton Of needed raw materials and I'm
ished products.
3. Prevention Of trade directly, or
indirectly. by persons In the United