Evening star., 1944-07-10
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

civilian and military officials
was headed along the familiar
path to the White House today
as Chairman Donald M. Nelson
of the War Production Board was
reportedly unwayering in his
view that there should be limited
civilian production to take up the
slack in industry created by cut
ting back of war orders.
This latest home front battle. with
joint Army and Navy chiefs of staff
and military procurement men
aligned on one side and Mr. Nelson
and considerable bloc of Congress
on the other. apparently was to be
submitted directly to President
Roosevelt for settlement War
Mobilization Director Byrnes, the
referee in most controversies. was
said to have approved the Nelson
plan for gradual relaxation OF war;
time restrictions weeks ago.
Ultimatum or Disputes Recalled.
Mr.. Nelson was described by asso-
ciates at WPB as prepared to push
through his program. but in view
OF the strenuous objections of the
military high command it was held
unlikely he would do so without
sounding out White House senti.
ment. This would seem to be par
ticularly true in view of the fact
that the chiefs of staff strong let
ter of objection Saturday was signed
by Admiral William D. Leahv. the
Presidents own chief of staff.
An interesting ANGLE of the situa-
tion to high officials who watched
the battle from the sidelines was
what action the President would
take in the matter in view of ulti-
matum of year ago that Govern-
ment off1cials who indulge in public
controversy should turn in their
designations.
The Nelson forces. with the WPB
chairman still recuperating from
pneumonia. have been cautiously
silent so far They have relied upon
supporters in Congress to carry the
fight for civilian production for
them. This element was provided
Saturday when both the Senate
Truman Committee and the Senate
Small Business Committee came out
in strong support Of Mr.. Nelson's
position
Between Two Fires.
One official pointed out that Mr..
Nelson now was in spot between
two fires since month ago he was
accused by Bernard NJ Baruch. au-
thor of the administrations blue
print for demobilization and recon-
version. of not developing postwar
plans with the speed the rapidly
developing military situation de-
manded. At the time. the Army was
praised by Mr.. Byrnes and others
for its advanced planning for the
/ postwar period. Now the military
] leaders charge that Mr.. Nelson's
modest program for immediate start
on reconversion threatens their
battle plans
/ Ten days to two weeks may elapse,
it was said at WPB. before Mr.. Mel.
son will be strong enough to re-
turn to his. ONCE In the meantime
1t is expected that other WPB ofi-
cials will complete new drafts Of
orders that would effectN.te the
Nelson program. The Presidents
views will be obtained and if they
are favorable. the orders will be
issued.
+ The current controversy began
some time after Mr.. Nelson an
nounced he would revoke wartime
restrictions on civilian production
involving use of aluminium and mae.
nesium. and would allow all manu-
facturers to begin acquisition OF
factory equipment needed In post
war operations.
Saturdays letter from the mill.
tary leaders urged Mr.. Nelson to re-
treat from his position. and de-
clared: The issuance of orders at
this time which will affect our
ability to produce war materials
is not consistent with the all-out
prosecution of the war" Z
A development military officials
fear, 1t was said. is that wartims
manpower controls are not strong
enough to prevent wholesale shift
of workers from war to civilian pro-
duction jobs. The Nelson program
for limited peacetime production Is
based almost entirely on the avail
ability OF manpower not needed for
war programs.
! War Manpower Chairman McNutt
also is bitterly opposed to the Nelson
program. presumably on the grounds
that 1t would torpedo" his Nation-
wide controlled hiring plan put into
enect 10 days ago. Mr. McNutt also
was said to doubt whether man.
power controls were suficiently
tight to hold workers in war plants
If the bars were let down at all on
civilian manufacture.