Evening star., 1945-07-01
By Francis p. Douglas.


sity of the highest order, being used in
boring and cutting tools.
Brazil was one neutral source of in
dustrial diamonds. In the days before
Pearl Harbor the diamonds were going
from Brazil to Germany and Japan.
Some went to Germany by submarine.
Some were shipped openly to Spain, and
thence to the Reich. There was consid-
erable smuggling. And it was believed
some of the diamonds went to the Axis
in the diplomatic pouches.
Metals Reserve and the State Depart
ment persuaded Brazil to prohibit the
export of diamonds to any country save
the United States. In return, Metals
Reserve agreed to pay about so per cent
above the current United States market
price for Brazilian diamonds. The plan
went into effect In May, 194l, and served
to close one important source to the Ger
mans and Japanese.
Industrial diamonds range in price
from so cents to about $40 carat.
If the price is much above the $40 top,
ths diamonds are in the gem class and
90 to jewelers.. AL told. Metals Reserve
acquired about ton OF industrial dia-
Ysonds.
New Sources of Nickel.
Nickel Is one OF the metals which has
been persistent problem. 1t is neces-
sary as an alloy of steel. But the sup
ply always has been limited.
Eighty-five per cent of the worlds
nickel comes from Canada. The Gov
ernment looked around for additional
sources. One was found In this country
in Missouri, and nickel-cobalt has been
produced at Fredericktown there.
Another source was found in Cuba.
The Defense Plant Corp. financed a
plant there, and on peninsula in East
ern Cuba across from the town of An
tilla there occurred what took place in
many sections of the United States. The
plant went up and on what had been
open fields there grew town of 1000
persons.
The plant is operated for the account
of Metals Reserve. 1t is producing
about 100000 pounds of nickel a
month, and although this is just little
more than 10 per cent Of the Canadian
production, 1t is the first real source in
the Western Hemisphere competing
with Canadian nickel.
Find French Supply.
Nickel accounted for an unusual ex-
perience in North Africa, an experience
which demonstrates the absence Of
French collaboration with the Germans
there.
About six months after the Allied
landing in North Africa certain French
men sought out American officers and
said they had something they wanted
to show the Americans.
The Americans were led to railroad
roundhouse and the French pointed to
number of steel drums, dirty and in
conspicuous, which were stored there.
In the drums was metallic nickel.
There were 1900 tons in all, and at
about "a cents pound it was worth
more than 100000.
This nickel had been produced in
also the presumption it was being
shipped to France at about the time
France fell, and 1t was either diverted
to North Africa or brought there from
Metropolitan France.
The French offered it to the United
States. 1t was purchased and brought
to warehouses here. Recently the French
have been inquiring whether they
might reacquire the metal. The War
Production Board believes the nickel
situation here is such now that the
1000 tons will not be needed. This nickel,
therefore, may make its third trip across
the Atlantic.
Platinum From Colombia.
For another example Of preclusive
buying there is platinum, one of the
metals vital to the electrical industry.
Colombia Is one of its principal sources.
We obtained from the Colombian gov
ernment prohibition against the ship
ment of platinum to any other country
than the United States and in return
we paid price bit higher than the
market for the metal.
There is no platinum produced in the
continental United States save for an
infinitesimal amount which comes as a
by-product in the production of copper.
There are five metals found in asso-
citation with platinum and which, in
general, may be used as substitutes for
platinum. They are palladium, iridium,
osmium, rhodium and ruthenium. The
35-ounce stockpile Of ruthenium al
ready has been mentioned.
OF the i've metals iridium commands