Evening star., 1943-02-25
Wilson Seeks Peace
With Services Over
BottIeneck Problem
Scheduling Directive
Awaited as Nelson
Aide Extends Power
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

LUSH IbiIiS CIldI les r., wilson dS
definitely running the War Produc-
tion Board SHOW" informed sources
said today the vice chairman had
made cvertures to the Army and
Navy for solution of differences of
opinion and would advance a plan
to break production "bottlenecks"
in a way more suitable to the
services.
Chairman Donald M. Nelson was
said to have turned over WPB con-
troll more completely to Mr.. Wilson
than was apparent last week when
the former General Electric head
was named executive vice chairman
Mr.. Nelson was described as taking
back seat" at least for the mo-
ment, He will leave soon for
vacation.
The contemplated plan of Mr..
Wilson to take over some procure
ment powers from the Army and
Navy in scheduling production of
components delaying must" war
production programs was said to
be more distasteful to the services
than even the forced resignation of
Ferdinand Eberstadt as WPB pro-
gram vice chairman. 1t was said
Mr.. Wilson now had decided to "go
slower than he had planned in
directing procurement functions.
Kanzler May Return.
Meanwhile it was said that Ernest
Kanzler, former WPB executive and
president of Universal Credit Corp,
may be brought back as top Off
cial on materials and head Of the
powerful Requirements Committee,
jobs formerly held by Mr.. Eber-
stadt. Mr.. Kanzler recently resigned
the post of WPB director general for
operations following reported dis
agreement with Mr.. Eberstadt. A
brother-in-law of Edsel Ford, he
represented WPB in Detroit when
the automobile industry was con-
| verting to war. The requirements
post Is being filled temporarily by
Vice Chairman William L. Bait.
In the effort to increase output
Of condensers, instruments, motors
and others of the "a components
interpreting with programs to pro
| duce rubber, aviation gasoline,
ships and aircraft, Mr.. Wilson also
decided to tell the Army and Navy
how many orders could be placed
and when and where In doing this
he would for the first time exercise
authority given Mr.. Nelson early
last year in the executive order
creating WPB. The military forces
were said to fear not only that the
action would interfere with others
OF their procurement programs but
would be the first step toward WPB
direction of all procurement.
Army and Navy officials. it was
said, told Mr.. Wilson that should
he direct procurement on a broad
scale he would be assuming full
responsibility for the war effort. 1t
was at this time that the Under
secretaries of Navy and War. James
V. Forrestal and Robert P. Patter-
son, respectively, were said to have
considered resigning. Mr.. Wilson
decided against taking the response
bility, 1t was understood.
Asked Lists Of Components.
Mr.. Wilson then asked the Army
and Navy for lists of components
the services held necessary for WPB
to schedule. Service officials now
are attempting to determine the
scope and effect of Mr.. Wilson'S
planned operations and the vice
chairman Is endeavoring to get away
completely from the necessity for
directing placement of orders.
In any event, it was said. Mr..
Wilson'S assumption of procurement
powers will be confined to a much
smaller field than originally planned.
II he should exceed the authority
the services feel is necessary to
break the current bottlenecks, the
battle" with WPB will break out
| In full force once again.
A directive had been drawn up
by Mr.. Wilson, in which he took
the broad powers in handling pro-
duction of the "a critical compo-
nents," items produced by thousands
OF firms throughout the country. It
was understood somewhat milder
order will be issued shortly Army
and Navy officials objected espe-
c1ally to being told when" and "how
much they could order, decisions
they believed they alone should
make.
Army and Navy officials believe
that adequate control of raw ma
terials is the indispensable first step
IN obtaining balanced production,
Ihey believe the controlled mate
rails plan, developed by Mr.. Eber-
stadt, would accomplish this OBJ
Jectlve. Although they admit ne
cessity for scheduling some COM
ponents, they feel tight materials
control would reduce scheduling to
a minimum. Industry now is at
tempting to digest the complicated
materials plan. 1t would interfere
seriously with war production to
force an equally complex controlled
components plan" upon the plants
at this time, the officials say.
Makes Overtures.
Mr.. Wilson was said to be embark
ing on a program of making
friends" with the Army and Navy,
one involving use of the co-opera-
tive approach to the task of increas-
ing production of items which are
holding up production in number
of lines.
Relations between top officials of
WPB and the Army and Navy this
week were described as more peace
ful than they had been since the
custer Of Mr.. Eberstadt threatened
to split the war agencies wide open.
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