Evening star., 1944-07-09
Chiefs Of Staff
Enter Fight on
Reconversion
Warn Nelson Lag
In Output Might
Upset Strategy
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Expressing grave concern over
tagging war production which
they said might force a change
in strategic battle plans and pro-
long the war, the Joint Army and
Navy chiefs OF staff last night
declared there should be no re-
Taxation in wartime controls
over civilian production.
The military high command
joined the rapidly developing battle
over industrial reconversion in 4
strongly-worded letter to Chairman
Donald M. Nelson of the War Pro-
duction Board, whose plans for an
early, though modest, start in
changing industry from war to
peacetime pursuits were snagged
last week in squabbles among other
high officials.
Nelson Plan Supported.
The attitude of the top military
leaders was held certain to strike
telling blow to Mr.. Nelson's an.
nounced policy to reconvert industry
gradually and orderly to civilian out.
put as war orders slacken and man.
power becomes available.
Shortly before release of the let.
ter, the Senate Truman COMMITTEES
issued a statement supporting Mr..
Nelson, urging WPB to effectuats
the Nelson program without fur
ther delay.
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief
OF staff to President Roosevelt.
signed the letter to Mr.. Nelson.
which follows:
The joint chiefs Of staff under
stand that the War Production
Board is now giving consideration
TO the issuance of certain orders
which have as their objective a re-
taxation in the controls now in
effect over nonessential military
production.
No Relaxation Now.
1t is further understood that the
chairman of the War Manpower
Commission believes that the issu-
ance OF these orders will make the
task OF providing adequate man.
power for our war production much
more dlfficult. If not impossible.
We are disturbed over the ex.
isting lag in war production. which.
II 1t continues. may necessitate re-
vision in strategic plans which
would prolong the war.
In view of the major offensive
operations underway on every front
1t is essential at this time that
there be no relaxation in war pro.
auction and that deficits in de-
ilveries be made up at the earliest
possible date.
The issuance of orders at this
time which will affect our ability
TO produce war materials is not
consistent with the active prose-
cution of the war.
Charge Selfishness.
Ihe Truman committees state.
ment. issued by Chairman Truman.
declared that resumption of civilian
production in areas where there il
no manpower shortage has been
opposed by some selfish business
groups that want to see their com.
petitors kept idle until they finish
their war contracts"
Opposition also has come from
Army and Navy representatives who.
the committee stated, want TO
create a surplus of manpower with
the hope that the consequent pres
sure on unemployed workers would
result In some of them shifting to
occupations or areas in which there
is still a manpower shortage"
The committee pointed out that
Mr.. Nelson on June 10 outlined a
plan for specific action in prepara-
ton for reconverSion of industry.
including revocation of restrictions
on the use of aluminium and mag
nesium and the granting OF au-
thority to all manufacturers to be-
gin acquisition of factory equipment
needed in postwar operations.
Illness Delays Action.
Since that time Mr.. Nelson be-
came Ill with pneumonia and orders
which would put into effect his pro-
gram begged down in controversy
among war agency officials.' Not
only have Army and Navy leaders
expressed bitter opposition. but they
have been joined by some of the
eight WPB vice chairmen and
Manpower Chairman McNttt.
1t was not known last night what
position Mr. Nelson, still recovering
from his illness, would take in light
of these developments. Drafts of
orders to make his program ofiicial
were circulated at WPB and it was
believed the documents would be
submitted to the chairman for his
action.
Using the Brewster Aeronautical
Corp. case as an example where a
war production cutback was badly
(see RECONVERsION Page A-6J