Evening star., 1952-05-26
|F|eischmann Defends
Copper AIIotments
Hit by 6. 0. P. Group

Allotments Of copper through
the international Materials Con-
ference were being assailed today
10y Republican Representatives and
upheld by Defense Production Ad-
ministrator Manly Fleischmann.
The House members asserted
that a "cruel injustice" had been
done American auto workers
through the division Of available
copper by the INC among the ma
tions of the free World. They said
the copper shortage, limiting the
number of automobiles which
could be built, had thrown many
auto workers out Of their jobs.
Mr.. Fleischmann said in reply:
This is another unfortunate
instance Of incorrect conclusions
reached from inaccurate informa-
ton
"The United States has ac-
Icepted an ALLEGATION Of copper
from INC that is larger than the
amount used by the United States
previous to the existence Of INC.
But most important Of all, the
United States purchasers Of cop
per have not bought the amount
of copper that they are entitled to
under the INC regulations"
Appointed by Martin.
The representatives who at
tackled INC are members of a
committee appointed by House
Republican Leader Martin. The
members are Representative Dom
dero of Michigan. chairman, and
Representatives Bishop Of Illinois,
Crumpacker and Harvey Of In
diana, Ford Of Michigan, Poulson
OF California. Radwan of New
York, Smith of Wisconsin and
Ruth Thompson of Michigan.
Their report said the United
States was the only INC member
to make substantial reduction
in automobile production in 1851.
United States auto output in
1851 was Is per cent below $780,"
the report said, "but France. was
up Is per cent, Western Germany
up % per cent, Italy up IA per
cent and Britain down only 6
per cent"
American workingmen were
being laid of in large numbers,
the report said, while Jobs in
foreign auto plants were multi
plying or showing only slight con-
traction.
The committee warned that no
one should be ''lulled into COM
placency by the fact material al
lotments in the auto industry
have now been increased" with a
lesSening Of unemployment. The
committee added that there is
danger this "super-cartel once
again will take actions requiring
deep cutbacks and layoffs in
United States auto plants"
Seven Commodity Groups.
The INC was formed in De-
cember. 1850, after a meeting be-
tween President Truman and the
then British Prime Minister.
Clement Attlee. It has seven
commodity committees, four Of
which have made allotments of
materials.
The Republican group said the
United States rightful supply of
free world copper is $50 per cent
OF the total. It said the INC al
lotment to us is only 49.1 per
cent.
Mr.. Fleischmann said in his
Judgment INC operations have
helped the United States auto in
dustry obtain copper rather than
jeopardizing the industry.
The said the INC alIotments
are only recommendations until
accepted by the countries involved.
In the first three months Of this
year, he said. the United States
accepted the 49.1 pei cent allot-
ment. But United States pur-
chases fell short of that share
because companies were unwill-
ing to pay the world price for
foreign copper while being unable
to pass that cost on the pur-
chasers of their products"
Dissolve INC and the world
price Of copper might be driven
sky high in the scramble. Mr..
Fleischmann warned. And, he
said. there would be no assurance
we would get more copper than
we net now.