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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 115, 10 February 1944, Page 4

Almost two years ago, when Japan’/ conquests had caused a sudden ' and very serious diminution in the supply of raw rubber available to the Allies, and the outlook concerning that essential war commodity was generally regard’ed as being exceedingly grave, a courageous statement was issued in the United States by Mr; Averell Harriman, fhe Presidents Icase-lend executive. America, he said, had been experimenting with synthetic rubber, and production on a commercial scale was about to begin. “I feel satisfied ” he said, ‘‘that within 18 months wo will be producing enough to supply the total war needs of the U.S. and Britain, even should the crude rubber supply run out.” Later events brought Mr. Harriman under fire of criticism as a wishful thinker. There were unexpected delays in the establishment of efficient plants. On the other hand the vast extension of war operations sent the demand for rubber products soaring far beyond the estimates of early 1942. Indeed there came a time in that year when i was feared that synthetic production could not fill the needs of the I niter States without curtailment of the use of rubber—in effect, curtailment of war operations. One by one, however, production difficulties have been overcome. Experimenters have worked on undaunted. Plants have steadily expanded. Mr. Harriman’s prediction in respect to the capacity of the new industry may not yet be fulfilled, but the statement issued in Washington on February 6 to the effect that production has reached almost 00.000 to . a month (50 per cent, above the 1943 rate) and will have increased in five months’ time to 75,000 tons monthly, is highly encouraging.. No estimates are available of the quantity now needed by the United Nations for war • purposes, but it is clear that at the present rate of expansion the industry must be fast approaching Mr. Harriman’s goal. ________