Evening star., 1951-08-10
u. 5. Rubber Stockpile
|Affords5-Y
Goodrich Chief Says
By Howard P. BoiIey
By a Stor Stcff CorTespondena

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 10.-The
United States has accumulated a
stockpile of crude rubber sufficient
to carry the country through a s.
year war and at the same time
has re-activated the man-made
rubber industry to the point that
the desired output of a million
tons of synthetic rubber per year
has been achieved.
John L. Collyer, president of the
B. F. Goodrich Co., made this
statement last night in addressing
"a group of newspapermen gath
cred here for the national finals
of the Soap Box Derby.
At the same time, Mr.. Collyer
asserted that the rubber industry
of the United States has been
completely socialized, both in the
field of production and use.
To correct this situation, which
Ihe declared had been tolerated oy
the country only because of the
threat to military security which
would arise out of a shortable Of
rubber, Mr.. Collyer urged the ap-
Ipointment of special commission.
similar in character to the Baruch
Committee, to work out a program
and policy to turn the rubber in
dustry back to private operation
and competition.
/ (The Baruch Committee of
! 1912 included Bernard Baruch.
DR.. Karl P. Compton and DR..
| James B. Conant. 1t was named
to make recommendation in the
then critical condition of rubber
supply)
i Urges "De-SoeialiZing."
/ Mr.. Collyer, one of the earliest
advocates of the production Of
synthetic rubber. urged that at the
END of the present emergency, the
Government take immediate steps
Ito "de-socialize" the industry by
selling or leasing the synthetic
plants now owned by the Govern
ment to private manufacturers.
The act under which the Govern
ment acquired complete control
over the production and sale of
rubber became law in April, 1948.
1t expires June 80. 1852.
/ AS Mr.. Collyer pointed out, the
Government owns the rubber
producing plants, procures the
raw materials and schedules the
output, is the only importer of
crude rubber, determines the
amounts of rubber that may be
consumed by the various manu-
facturers, specifies the uses to
which the rubber may be put
and sets the price.
This condition has developed,
he said, because of a recognition
of the needs for military security
and not because of any clearly
defined policy.
/ Recommends 5 Points.
/ To restore the industry to pri-
Ivate operation he made the five
following recommendations:
1 l. Termination of Government
control of crude rubber pur-
chasing.
4 2. Termination of Government
control over consumption of rub
Der for civilian purposes.
! 3. Accumulation of a stock
pile of 100000 long tons of Amer
Ilcan-made rubber for the purpose
Iof military security.
! 4. Limitation of active Gov
ternment participation in the field
Iof rubber to the maintenance Of
strategic stockpiles after accumu-
lation of the stockpile of man.
made rubber has been accomp-
lished.
5. A clear cut statement Of
policy to be issued by Government
assuring both producers and con-
Isumers of rubber that the strategic
stockpileS of crude and man-made
Irubbers will be employed only for
the purpose of military and essen
! 'tlal civilian security and will.
under no circumstances, be used
TO manipulate rubber prices.