The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-06-01
I H E SEE D AIY s
GEORGE K. SOKOLSKY
THE RUBBER STORY
- E Y

392, LOGO tons of synthetic rubber Of this total amounting to 1,375,- 000 tons, the United States used approximately 100000 tons.
 The synthetic rubber industry was delayed because of the avail ability of crude rubber-that is, rubber taken from the sap of trees During World War II, most of the rubber producing countries were cut off from the United States by Jap anese conquests. Had it not been for the efforts of Bernard Baruch, John Hancock, William M. Jeffers,. and others associated with them, this country would have found it. self without rubber altogether. It will he repembered that Baruch's services were recruited during a severe rubber crisis.
 So, we developed synthetic rub Der industry of about 940,000 tons capacity, largely government-owned but also with some privately owned production. The rubber act of 1948 authorizes the President to insure a consumption of at least 2,000 tons of synthetic rubber so that we do not duplicate the shortages of World War II, i- the event of an emergency.
 Certain Far Eastern countries produce 96 per cent of the world supply of crude rubber. Although the plant is native to Brazil, it's greatest development took place in Asia under British and Dutch man. agement The center of the in- dustry is the city of Singapore.
 Should the Far Eastern supply be cut off again, we shall be forced to revert to rationed tires and to the secondary qualities we encoun- tered during the war. We do not grow any rubber in this country but can make it from chemical and agricultural products. Therefore, it is interesting to see what has been happening in the rubber growing countries, all of which are now targets of Soviet China's pen etration as part of the conquest of the world by Soviet Russia:
 l. It is generally believed that Soviet China will within six months decide whether the Philippines or French Indo-China has a potential capacity of 100000 tons, but only produces over 40000 tons. This area is in very grave disturbance.
 2. The Malay peninsula has a potential of 100000 tons and pro- duces nearly as much. It is the heart of the industry because of the importance of Singapore. AL though it It not yet in any real danger, it must be realized that a very large part of it's population is Chinese, with very potent Commun- ist infiltrations. It will not be an immediate target, but should the Philippines fall to the Huks, the disturbances will increase.
 3. Indonesia, which used to be called the Dutch East Indies, has a potential capacity of 800,000 tons, of which the output now is just more than half. Although the fn- donesian republic is anti-Commu- mist, there is plenty of trouble there In this area is included Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Celebes-all rub reproducing areas. Economically, they are begged to Singapore.
 4. Whatever, then, happens to the Malay Peninsula, will affect h. donesia, as it will Borneo and Sar- awak. Thailand (Siam is also rubber-growing country, as is Bur ma. Both are affected by China and French Indo-China.
 Tn a word it is possible as one looks at the political map of Asia to anticipate that we may discover our supply of crude rubber-ano incidentally, our supply of tin curtailed, if not cut off. As our life grows more and more depend ent on craft which roll on rubber tires, no government which looks ahead at all would ignore this par ticular problem.
 When Stuart Symington, chair man of the National Security Re- sources Board, talks about the cold war having already become hot, he make rubber an extraordinarily im- portant subject. In 1945, ST per cent of the total consumption of new rubber was synthetic rubber made in the United States. This is something that we dare not for get in any consideration of the curious problems that face us in this period that some call peace.
 We must assume that the gov ernment stockpile of crude as well as synthetic rubber is growing larger all the time. But we must fight off any political effort to make this country again dependent wholly upon Far Eastern crude |