Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-27
Nelson b lanes
Military Chiefs
For Lack Of Gas
WPB Director Reps
Patterson, LETTERS
For Public Conflict
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
Rapping sharply the airing
OF personal grievances in the
public press" Chairman Donald
M. Nelson of the War Produc-
ton Board declared today that
the current shortage of aviation
gasoline and the conflict between
the synthetic rubber program
and production of high-octane
gasoline and escort vessels was
due to sloWness of Army and
Navy officials in planning re-
quirements rather than to "the
green light given the rubber
program for material.
Mr.. Nelson said that as early as
July, 1910, the old National De-
Tense Advisory Commission advocat-
ed creation of a storage reservoir of
100000 barrels of aviation gaso-
line, but that the recommendation
was not carried out because of con-
troversy among military leaders.
Mr.. Nelson told the Truman
Committee, which today began an
inquiry into the rubber VS.. 10O-oc-
tame gasoline row, that the commits
sion suggested that the gas be
stored because it was going into
commercial channels. He added the
productive capacity had been built
up largely to supply the British and
French. The controversy over tho
matter, he said, ragged into 1941."
Plans to Garry Out Program.
Mr.. Nelson testified that he be-
lleves that not only the synthetic
rubber and high octane gasoline
programs can be carried out this
year, but also the planned produc-
ton of airplanes, escort vessels and
merchant shipping.
Called before the Truman COM
mittee inquiring into a dispute I'M
volving Rubber Director William
LETTERS, Undersecretary of War Pat
terson and Petroleum Administrator
1ckes, Mr.. Nelson said:
Everything that can be done to
expedite construction of plants for
manufacture of high octane gaso-
line will be DONE" adding:
This can be done through Coop
Grafton, not through fighting"
Without mentioning either Mr.,
Patterson Or Mr.. LETTERS by name,
the WPB chairman declared:
ANY indulgence in personal rival
rles IN time of war Is completely out
of place"
Asserting that if any program had
been endangered there was an "es-
tablished procedure for review, Mr..
Nelson added that nothing could be
accomplished by stirring up per-
sonal rivalries"
L never will object to any one GO
ing to the press after all the other
actions for settlement are TAKEN" he
said. 1--WE had experience in per-
sonal rivalries. Any indulgence Of
that sort in time of war is complete,
ly out of place"
The Truman Committee is inves-
tlgatlng charges made last week by
Mr.. Patterson that high priorities
for plant equipment given the rub
per program several months ago
had created shortage of 1OO-oc-
tame gasoline which has grounded
some of our training planes and
threatened the Allied air offensive
against Germany. Mr.. Patterson
said Mr.. Jeffers was responsible for
the bad high-octane situation.
Raps Patterson and LETTERS.
Mr.. Nelson said he was glad that
the Truman committee had under
taken to bring out the true facts
OF the controversy to the public.
In review of events leading ur
to the controversy, Mr.. Nelson de-
clared high priorities for plant
equipment given the synthetic rub
Der program in December and Jam
uary had nothing to do with the
current shortage alleged by Mr.,
Patterson.
The WPB chairman declared that
1t takes a minimum of a year to
ID months to complete aviation
gasoline plants, and that any cur
rent shortage of supply results from
decisions made "a year or more ago.
Cooperation Is Key.
He declared that IF any one wants
to know how program can be
speeded up, there is a routine pro-
cedure to be taken up which does
not involve going to the press" Mr..
Nelson obviously was referring to
the charges Mr.. Patterson made
against the handling of the rubber
program.
This thing cannot be settled by
the calling of Names" Mr.. Nelson
continued, "but through the closest
cooperation of Government agencies
to carry out an almost Impossible
job"
Mr.. Nelson was referring to the
fact that there are five must" pro-
grams placed at the top of the list
OF war essentials, all Of which COM
pete in varying degrees for the same
type OF plant machinery. These
programs are aircraft, escort yes
sells and merchant ships as well "a
| high-octane and rubber.
Mr.. Nelson admitted that it was
pointed out to him in December by
War and Navy officials that tho
(See RUBBER, Page A-61