Evening star., 1943-04-24
Rubber
Continued From First Page. J

liam M. Jeffers might resign or be
forced to leave Washington. This
question, the official added, would be
strictly in the hands of the indi-
viduals involved in the battle. From
the standpoint of working out solu-
ton to the problem of scarce plant
machinery, he said it could be re-
solved, IF the individuals will be-
have" without necessity Of any one
resigning.
The controversy will reach a
showdown next week when the Tru-
man Committee starts an inquiry of
the Patterson charges. The investi-
cation may determine whether any
of the top officials involved in the
dispute should be handed his hat"
and forced to leave the Government
Bernard M. Baruch, the elder
statesman" whose committee au-
thored the rubber program which
Mr.. Jeffers follows religiously, also
has started quiet inquiry as to the
effect Of rubber priorities on other
must" war production.
Recommending that whoever Is
wrong should resign are Mr.. Jeffers
himself and Senator Gillette, Demo-
crat, of Iowa, who also is ready to
referee if needed.
Gillette Backs Showdown.
AS the Truman Committee an
nounced its investigation is under
way into the accusation that alloca-
ton Of vital materials to the rubber
program has closed production of
vital 100-octane gasoline, Senator
Gillette said:
If the charges made against
Rubber Director Jeffers are true in
substantial part he ought to resign
from his Office or be forced to do so.
If they cannot be substantiated in
principal part those responsible for
making the allegations should be
ready to offer their designations"
Meanwhile, the Navy joined the
Army today in a double
attack on the synthetic rubber pro-
gram. Navy officials asserted that
large number of destroyer escort
vessels badly needed in anti-sub-
marine work still are unable to put
to sea because valves, condensers
and other equipment needed for the
ships were flowing to Mr.. Jef1ers'
new synthetic plants.
The Truman committee announced
plans to call Chairman Donald M.
Nelson of the War Production Board
and petroleum Administrator Ickes,
who has supported Mr.. Patterson's
charges, Tuesday.
The committee Wednesday will
hear Mr.. Jeffers, Mr., Patterson and
Undersecretary of Navy Forrestal.
Chairman Truman said the commit
tee desired to investigate the new
controversy as quickly as possible
and that his group already had
gathered extensive information on
reasons for conflict between the rub
ber and aviation gasoline programs.
Nelson Calls ParIey.
Senators on the committee de-
clared they had formed no definite
opinions as to the merits of the
claims of Army and Navy officials
and Mr.. Jeffers and took the atti-
tude that aviation gasoline, escort
vessels and rubber all are highly es-
sential.
Mr.. Nelson summoned some of the
warning officials to his ONCE late
yesterday In an effort to straighten
out the new tangle. Attending the
meeting were Mr.. Patterson, Ralph
K. Davies, deputy petroleum admin
istrator, and WPB Vice Chairman
Ralph Cordiner, the "bottle-neck
breaker" OF the war program. Mr..
Jeffers did not attend as he had left
earlier for brief inspection tour
of rubber plants.
Ways of increasing high-octane
output were discussed at the meet
ing. Later, it was said that ofncials
who are neutral in the rubber
gasoline fight were not at all certain
that the aviation gasoline program
could be helped by taking away some
of the manufacturing machinery
slated to be used in rubber plants.
Some high ofhcials did not see
how Mr.. Jeffers could be blamed for
any shortage In high octane gaso-
line or escort vessels, pointing out
that the rubber director did not
make the determination Is to how
much scarce equipment should Be