Evening star., 1944-07-12
Reconversion Plans
May Be Deferred by
Army and Navy Need,
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

tAAC 1CCOIlSCIS1Ou UAttlC OCtWCCkl
civilian and military officials
gave no definite assurance that
the full War Production Board
program for q start in shifting
industry from war to peace would
become effective August Is, al
though public announcement Of
the settlement indicated 1t would.
The bitter controversy that ragged
publicly for more than . week be-
tween WPB Chairman Donald M.
Nelson and his supporters and the
Nations top military leaders ended
late yesterday in compromise. The
hrst part Of Mr.. Nelson's four point
program, that enabling civilian pro-
ducVon, from aluminium and mag
nesium takes effect Saturday. Sec
ond and third parts become effective
July 70 and %, respectively.
Although the WPB press an
nouncement stated the order effect
uating the fourth and most impor-
tant part will be issued August IS,
officials participating in the agree
ment ending the conflict said this
fourth order was to be reviewed next
month I'm light of the military sit
uation existing at the time" before
action is taken.
Most Strongly Opposed.
This Is the order which would
empower WPB field ofIices to au-
thorize manufacturers to produce
civilian goods where there was man.
power. facilities and materials not
needed for war. WPB considered it
the most important portion of Mr..
Nelson's program and it was the Or
der most strenuously opposed by
Army and Navy officials.
The agreement, the officials said,
merely stated the order would not
be issued before August Is. To ap-
pease the military men it was de-
cided the military situation would
be appraised before its issuance.
There also was the possibility that
If fourth order is drawn up next
month 1t might be so shackled with
what manpower and military Offl-
cials feel are proper safeguards to
prevent interference with war out
put that it would be meaningless.
ManpoWer Chairman McNutt pre-
sented a plan at the WPB meeting
yesterday that would exclude group
and two labor shortage areas from
this order.
Nelson Seem Victor.
Although it was difficult to ap-
praise the outcome until it can be
determined definitely what will
happen to WPB's most important
relaxation order, most ofiicials were
Of the opinion today that Mr.. Nelson
won a victory over the military as
to the policies that will guide the
Nation through the reconversion
period
The order to become effective July
% will enable all manufacturers to
obtain materials and components to
make working models of products
they plan for postwar manufacture.
The third order. to be issued a week
later, will permit manufacturers to
begin acquisition of factory equip
ment for postwar operations.
The controversial fourth order was
described by Mr. Nelson as indus
trial preparations for peace" and 1t
is the only one of the four that
would bring any noticeable increase
in civilian goods. 1t forms what Mr..
Nelson hopes is the basis for the
gradual restoration of factory peace
time operations as manufacturers
are freed from war work by contract
cutbacks.
| Dates Urged by McNutt.
A staggered schedule OF dates for
issuance of the orders, it was said,
was agreed upon lin order to give
! the War Manpower Commission
more time to perfect it's organiza-
ton and administrative controls.
Mr.. McNutt proposed the dates
Military leaders have expressed fear
OF Mr., Nelson's program, mostly on
the grounds that civilian production,
once given some leeway. would
"SnoWball' and cause a wholesale
shift of workers from war plants.
! 1Ao eoAuPi UTILISE agreement was
announced by Charles E. Wilson,
executive vice chairman of WPB,
and was approved by Mr.. Nelson.
convalescing from pneumonia at his
home.
1t was understood the warning
Government factions were brought
together by War Mobilization Direc-
tor Byrnes, who several weeks ago
had approved the Nelson program
in full.