Evening star., 1942-01-11
unifedAations
Supply Council
To Be Formed
Churchill to Take
Port in Conference
This Week on Plan
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

BY JOHN C. HENRY.
Creation of a single-minded
economic council for the united
nations, one which would be en-
powered to slash red tape and
eliminate waste motions in the
operation of matching interna-
tional productive capacities to
fighting needs, is expected here
within a few days.
The structure Of such a council,
it is known, has been under discus
sion during the British American
conversations of the last few weeks,
and has been one Of the major sub
jects on which other governments
represented in the united front have
been consulted and in which they
are expected to play a part.
Tentatively, 1t is believed the or
ganization will be supplied either
through existing groups or through
specially qualified liaison units with
precise information Of two kinds:
first, the exact requirements in the
way Of fighting equipment, and sec
ond, ne natural resources and pro-
ductive facilities Immediately or
potentially available.
u. S. and Britain To Head.
A hard-hitting administrative top
would then undertake the job Of
matching these two. and would be
armed with sufncient authority to
permit no interference with the
single objective of producing the
ornaments necessary for winning
the war.
Since the actual production re-
sponsibility falls heaviest on the
industrial capacities Of America and
Britain, these two nations Will be
dominant in the personnel Of the
proposed council.
Although designations of indiyid-
uals are still unomcial, it has beer
reported that Donald A. Nelson
chairman Of the 3. p. A. B., and
william L. Bait. head Of the ma
terials division of the O. P. NJ. arr
slated to assume major roles ~
American representatives.
Final confernces on the matter
with selection of the individuals II
take over the task, are expected .,
the White House in a day or 50
with President Roosevent and Prime
Minister Churchill to be joined by
supply experts of their two govern
ments and with the other affected
governments being fully advised.
Face Tremendous Task.
One broad measurement OF the
productive job facing such a control
group was stated by President
Roosevelt in his message to Con-
gress last Tuesday on the state Of
the Unions four point program OF
turning out more planes. tanks. guns
and ships than have ever before
been imagined.
Meanwhile, from the Capitol, the
Associated Press reported that there
is increasing speculation on the pos
sibility of Associate Justice James
F. Byrnes of the Supreme Court
being named co-ordinator Of the
score or more Government agencies
now engaged In the production and
supply effort.
Mr.. Roosevelt's reluctance to ask
the former South Carolina Senator
to step down from the high court
to- which he was named last june
II, was said to have stayed any
decision on the question temporarily
Some well-informed legislators
professed to believe that because Of
this the President might, If he chose
to act at all, merely borrow" JUS
tice Byrnes temporarily to aid in
revamping the production organiza-
ton.
Roberts Sets Precedent.
Precedent for such action was set,
it was pointed out, when Mr.. Roose-
yelt named Associate Justice Owen
J. Roberts head of q commission to
investigate the responsibility for
failure of the Army and Navy to be
on the alert when the Japanese
made their sneak attack on Pearl
Harbor.
Before his appointment to the
court, Justice Byrnes handled many
congressional problems for the
President and continually was con-
suited about the often-dimcult task
Of translating general policies into
legislation.
Sentiment among loyal supporters
Of the Presidents program for .
move Of this nature was manifested
when Chairman Connally Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee told reporters he thought q
hard-boiled, two-fisted" admins.
traitor ought to be named to take
over responsibility Of production and
supply under the Presidents direc-
ton.