Evening star., 1942-05-08

plants despite -
the signing Of David Lawrence.
contracts some time ago. Informed
sources state that the program has
begged down due to dispute as be-
tween processes.
Thus, for instance, the argument
goes on as between buna and butyl.
The former has been tested and,
though expensive, nevertheless can
be effective. The latter Is expert
mental and very little is known
about it..
The problem is not which is
eventually going to be the better
process but which one can be put
into operation promptly 30 that
America can get new rubber within
the next II or IA months. Con-
troversies as to which process might
have been in an advanced stage
today II this or that had been done
will not overcome the biggest handi-
cap of all, which is time.
The United States definitely is
up against a deadline in the use
Of existing rubber not only in its
stockpile but in its reclaimed sup
ply. All sources of rubber in this
country and in Central and South
America are being canvassed, but
1t is clear that synthetic rubber
production soon must be put into
full operation or serious situation
will confront our whole economic
system.
Germany's Need Lower.
The Nazis have very little syn
thetic rubber and very little natural
rubber but they do not have 10000
600 autos and they do not transport
their workers to industrial plants in
individual cars. Also their distances
are short within the country.
Americas needs for rubber run up
several times those Of Germany.
Hence synthetic rubber becomes an
absolute necessity.
Not much good can come from
rehashing what has happened in
1910 and 194l. The mistakes that
have been made by the administra-
ton in failing to be realistic about
the possible fall Of the Dutch East
Indies cannot be repaired by assess
ing the blame now in any quarter.
There is some reason, however, to
believe that the mistakes being made
this very month are almost as vital
to the future OF our rubber supply
as were the faulty decisions of
1910 and 19<l.
It is reported that high officials
are gravely concerned about the
rubber problem and are depending
on American industry to work out
the solution. But, in addition, there
must be decisiveness in Washington
where. despite all the glowing prom
ises Of the scientists rs to what
they can do several months hence
and despite all the arguments about
how cheaply this or that process
can be made when 1t Is perfected,
the time has come to insist that a
start be made in the manufacture
Of synthetic rubber of all kinds and
in whatever quantities can be quick
ly obtained. irrespective of price and
Irrespective of economic or COM
petitive considerations that may de-
velop later on.
Rubber Car Needed.
II the American production ma
chine bogs down because of lack OF
rubber, the American people will
not be satisfied with record OF
letters exchanged between all the
different agencies of Government
involved. They will insist that some
one somewhere in Washington
should have taken hold of all angles
OF the situation and forced immedi-
ate decisions.
In view of the distributed author
ity over different aspects of the
rubber problem, 1t would seem logi-
cal for the President TO take rubber
out of all the routine and red tape
and out OF all the existing channels
of consideration and put a czar OF
chief over the whole rubber prob
lem with full authority to tell every
agency OF the Government that CO.
operation must be immediate.
The emergency is too great TO be
allowed TO be settled In the manner
In which 1t has been tackled in the
past. Some decisive authority must
be exerted to compel extraordinary
measures TO get the synthetic rub
Der plants under way as soon al
possible II the public knew how
little had been accomplished in tina,
direction, it would be much more
worried than it appears to be today
The moves toward requisitionins
cars and toward cutting down pleas.
ure driving are valuable bits o.
exhortation, but the solution to tn,
rubber problem lies in getting tn,
synthetic rubber plants for the bi,
600 0,000-ton program under wa,
without further delay.
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