Evening star., 1943-04-01


facts justify the widest publicity.
On March IS and March II the
Automotive Council on War Pro-
duction addressed letters to the
WPB disclosing crisis in the han
ding of war materials. The let
ters happened to be sent to about
400 manufacturers, and a few copies
came into the hands of some news
papermen so that the letters might
be given publicity.
AS soon as the first letter was pub
lished, the officials of the auto manu-
featuring industry now engaged in
war production were taken to task
by the WPB and scolded because
the information was revealed to the
public. So severe was the dress
ing down that the spokesman for
the Automotive Council for war pro-
duction found it necessary, before
an assembled press conference, to
promise that this is the last time
any such important document Is 60
ing to be sent to 400 companies"
Shutdowns Forecast.
But this policy of suppression has
not prevented the facts from be-
coming widely known. Within the
last "a hours c. c. Carlton, presis
dent of the Automotive Parts and
Eouipment Manufacturers Assocla-
ton, predicted that material short
ages would cause widespread shut
downs and labor unrest in war in
dustries in April. Mr.. Carlton is re-
ported by the United Press as say
ing that bad control" Of the mate
rial situation was largely RESPONSE
BILE for absenteeism in war indus
tries.
He declared that the material
situation was really serious" ana
that it is hard to convince the
workers of the importance OF their
lob when you have to lay them on
frequently because OF lack OF ma
terials."
Mr.. Cartons statement comes
after the WPB had promised to
make corrections in the muddle de-
scrlbed IN the March II letter OF the
Automotive Council for War Produc-
tion. That letter, which has been
suppressed, due to intimidation by
the WPB-the agency criticized-ls'
In part, as follows:
"A survey of the automotlVe IN
dustry shows that production OF war
materials after April l will be need
lesslv interrupted in many plants
heeause the Controlled Materials
Dian Is falling down. This fact mas
been brought forcibly to our atteh-
Hon by our Materials Control com
n,,ttee and is outlined in their le'Ver
of March IS to WPB. ,.
"The Board of Directors OF tne
Automotive Council CONSIDERS ~
their obligation to bring to your I'M
mediate attention the fact that tne
armament output of this industry IS
In jeopardy as result OF the 1aiiuie
- Government agencies to adopt tne
fundamentals of successful malefi"'s
control and distribution.
Survey Conducted.
"rhe facts are that most COM
,ories do not yet have all tnen
s,,otments for the second quarter
A telegraphic survey made March
,o-,1 revealed that only 13 per cenV
hos heen allotted sufficient materlais
.nd adequate preference ratings TO
enod,ce 90 their authorized schedules
con,nliance with GIMP requirements
1-i,, nrevent the production by tnis
INDUSTRY Of the number OF war prov
ucts 1t could produce with 1ne MAJ MAJ
r,a,s available for such proouctlon
- a .nsse materials were properly dis
"1rhe weakness of fundamental
,,nninp bv those responsible 1or
the original schedules Will resu'V 49,
tne M 1aving off Of thousands OF EN- l.
s,oree in our plants. When thiS
hannens it will confuse the man,
nower problem Of the country anu
red,,ce individual efficiency OF en-
Moves for they cannot be expected
- nut forth maximum effort wnen
to do 50 only results in their oeihe
At least temporarily out OF 'oo.
"T-his is not because the Controlieo
.xster;als plan does not contain the
necessarv elements of SOUND ma
ter,als control, but is principally the
to,lure of Government to do its part
~ the lob. and over-concentration
m elaborately detailed. methods OF
administration and policing.
No New Plan Necessary.
"Fortunately no new plan for con-
Trolling the flow OF materials Is re-
ouired to correct this situation, be-
cause the means to accomplish oul
objective of maximum war produc-
tion lie within the present frame
work of the Controlled Materials
Plan.
1--WE know you would want us to
inform you of the urgency of this
situation because of its effect upon
the supply OF weapons to the Army