Evening star., 1946-04-28


is again in ample supply, and long
term" for the future.
The short-run proposals follow:
/. The synthetic rubber industry
should and will of necessity continue to
operate at high level in order to sup
ply the large demand for new rubber
O. To distribute natural rubber sup
plies equitably throughout the world, in
ternational pooling and ALLEGATION OF
natural rubber should be continued.
g. Until ample supplies of natural rub
ber are assured, all but the least eff
cient synthetic plants should be main
tanned in operation or standby condi-
ton.
4. Stocks of natural rubber should be
increased.
S. Government powers to allocate rub
ber to manufacturers and to control
specifications should be extended beyond
June 30. the termination date OF the
Second War Powers Act.
6. The proportions of natural rubber
permitted to be used in civilian products
should be increased insofar as possible
and consistent.
T. Manufacturers should be allotted
small amounts of natural rubber for ex-
perimental purposes.
8. Until private enterprise assumes
the responsibility, the Government must
continue to own and operate enough
synthetic capacity to meet the needs Of
the domestic economy. A detailed pro-
gram for this transition will be con-
tanned in a subsequent report.
incidentally. P w. Litchield, chair
man of the board of the Goodyear
Tire g. Rubber Co., stated recently
that the question of private versus
government ownership is not so press
ing as the need for continuous flow
of general purpose synthetic, that de-
velopments in the next two years may
conceivably alter the national viewpoint
and that I'VE are more likely to be
right in the end if we continue Govern
ment ownership" until the rubber pic
ture is much clearer)
9. The Government should continue
to sponsor and encourage broad rub
Der research programs.
TO- There should be established some
form of national rubber supervision in
which all Government agencies having
any responsibility would be represented.
This body should coordinate all rub
ber activities, and keep the rubber sit
uation under review so as to be able to
make recommendations for policy
changes to the President and Congress
Long-Term Recommendations.
Here are the long term recommended
tions:
l. There should be maintained in
production and use, regardless of cost,
sufficient synthetic capacity to meet at
least one third of our rubber require
ments, exclusive of requirements for
special-purpo rubbers. This involves
minimum consumption of general
purpose synthetic of 25o000 long tons a
year. The plants should comprise the
most efficient and low-cost of existing
facilities. Consequently, inclusion of
plants using alcohol as raw material
is not now indicated.
2. Legislation to secure a minimum
use of synthetic should be based on a
policy of minimum Government inter-
ference. the recommendation as to this
to be submitted later.
3. Private ownership and operation of
the synthetic industry should be a
major objective.
4. The Government should maintain
in standby condition efficient general
purpose plants in excess of those re-
quired for the minimum program, if
these plants are not acquired by private
industry. After natural rubber is in
ample supply and while owned by the
Government, they should not be oper-
ated except in emergency.
Strategic Stockpile Urged.
S. Research programs should be con-
tinued. The Department of Agricul-
ture should continue experiments with
botanic sources or rubber.
6. The Government should accumu-
late and maintain a strategic stockpile
of natural rubber. It should be held
apart from stocks in commercial chan
nels and, except for rotation require
ments, should be kept for emergency
USE
7. Continuous review of the problem
should be maintained
The committee report states there is
considered to be potential world pro-
ductive capacity of 100000 long tons
annually of natural and synthetic rub
ber; world consumption is not expecte<,
to rise above 100000 tons. Far East
ern plantations are expected to be able
to produce minimum of 100000 tons,
with world synthetic capacity around
100000 TONS The capacity of the
United States synthetic industry is
more than 100000 tons annually.
The estimates are that this year per-