Evening star., 1942-05-26
All But Top Diplomat!
Are Asked 10 Return
Gasoline \ Cards
increased Use Of Borees
To Corry Supplies to
East Coust Indicted

The State Department yesterday
asked all but the chief and top
ranking officials of the diplomatic
missions to this country to turn in
gasoline rationing cards emitting
them to unlimited supplies and ac-
cept more restricted allowances.
Some 800 diplomats listed on the
departments diplomatic list OBJ
tanned x cards under the rationing
program. The foreign representa-
tives obtained their cards under spe-
cial arrangements set up by the Pro-
tocol Division.
The State Department request
asks all but the Ambassadors or
Ministers, counselors or first secre-
taries, whichever would be in charge
of the missions in the absence Of the
Ambassadors or Ministers, and mil
itary, naval and commercial attaches
to turn in the x cards and accept a
card which will allow gasoline pur-
chases sufficient for official needs.
The departments move, taken be-
cause of the need for further cur
tailment of civilian consumption Of
gasoline, comedies with multiple in
dications that the Federal Govern
ment will take steps shortly to in
crease gasoline transportation ar
teries from the Midwest Oil fields
to the Eastern seaboard.
Barge Regulations Modified.
The Coast Guard announced
changes in regulations to permit
the transport of inf1ammable prod
ucts in barges made OF materials
other than steel-mainly wood and
concrete. Such barges could be used
to carry petroleum products along
the shoal-protected inland waterway
that extends from Florida to New
Jersey.
Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Robbins,
assistant chief of Army engineers,
told a Senate Commerce Subcom-
mittee yesterday that in two or
three months this inland channel
could be deepened to IL feet to per-
init through transportation along
the Seaboard
The possibility of greater use of
barges was emphasized after con-
gresSional leaders who conferred
yesterday with President Roosevelt
said that special attention was be-
ing given to construction of pipe
line across Florida.
This would be an integral unit in
the transport chain from Gulf ports
to Northeastern States. A partly
developed inland barge channel is
available along the Gulf coast.
Nation Wide Rationing Hit.
While officials have emphasized
that increased barge movements
alone would not 90 very far to meet
the Eastern petroleum shortage, the
Maritime Commission announced
that invitations have been sent out
to TOO firms to bid on construction
Of an undisclosed number of shall
low draft, wooden bargeS.
In addition, the Coast Guard said
that Is concrete barges are nearing
completion and 18 more contracts
for similar craft have been awarded.
Meanwhile, members of Congress
voiced sharp reaction to plans under
consideration by the War Produc-
ton Board for Nation wide gasoline
rationing as means Of conserving
rubber.
Representative Dingell, Democrat,
Of Michigan announced last night
he is preparing a resolution for a
congressional investigation to deter
mine whether gasoline rationing is
necessary in the Middle West and
the reasons for the rubber scarcity,
the Associated Press reported.
We all know the reasons for
gasoline shortage in the East" Mr.
Dingell said, but do we have to i'm
mobilize great strategic centers in
the West?
"Detroit-democracys arsenal
has the greatest bomber plant in
the world, probably, but the workers
can't make bombers at Willow Run
unless they can get there, and they
must get there on rubber tires
Unnecessary" Vandenberg Says.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
of Michigan asserted in a message
to Leon Henderson, price admins
traitor, that Nationwide rationing is
unnecessary and unwarranted."
The only reason for rationing in
Michigan, he contended, would be
for the purpose of conserving rubber
or Ito satisfy selfish Eastern de-
mands that rationing shall be Ma
tion-wide."
Senator Brown, Democrat, Of
Michigan said gasoline rationine
should not be extended until the
need for it is very apparent, but
Senator Maybank, Democrat, of
South Carolina contended country
wide restrictions should be imposed
at once.
Senator Lee, Democrat, of Okla
homa wired President Roosevelt
vosterdov fo succeSt conference