October 1, 1918. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Reg. United States Pat. Ofif. Ree. United Kingdom. 



Published on the 1st of each month by 



THE INDIA RUBBER PUBLISHING GO. 



No. 25 West 45th Street. New York. 



Telephone— Bryant 2576. 



CABLE ADDRESS: IRWORLD. NEW YORK. 



HENRY C. PEARSON, F.R.G.S., Editor 



Vol. 59. 



OCTOBER 1, 1918. 



No. 1. 



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COPYRIGHT. 1918, BY THE INDIA RUBBER PUBLISHING CO. 

 Entered at the New York post office as mail matter of the second class. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS ON LAST PAGE OF READING, 



Both Able and Willing. 



A M ERICA'S income is $.352 per capita; her debt, $63. 

 ./m- One liwiiircd dollars per capita would bring 

 $12,000,000,000 and still leaie us solvent. That is why 

 zvc face the fuiirfli Liberty Loan with optiuiism and 

 enth'siasm. 



AMERICAN RUBBER TRADE ATTACKED. 



CiiRTAIN ijuljlications in England, notably the 

 "Financial Times" and "Truth," are saying ex- 

 ceeding bitter things against the American rubber trade. 

 Noting them, our London contemporary, "The India 

 Rubber Journal," states the case as follows : 



"The excess raw rubber importation into the United 

 States over and above the fixed ration has not yet 

 been satisfactorily explained, and has provided food for 

 much unfavorable discussion and comment in market 

 circles. The usually well-informed financial correspond- 

 ent of 'Truth' this week devotes his attention to the 

 matter, and formulates an indictment against the .Ameri- 

 can rubber industry which contains the essence of the 

 market gossip. In order to ventilate the subject we 

 reproduce his remarks below, and may perhaps go so 



far as to say that some explanation is due from the 

 American to the British rubber industry in order that 

 any misunderstanding may be removed, and that the 

 cordial relations which have ruled for so long be 

 cemented." 



I'.efore replying fully we affirm that on the part of 

 the -Vmerican rubber trade there exists the most sincere 

 and cordial feeling toward England. Her supreme sac- 

 rifices during the past four years in the defense of her 

 heritage and ours, are fully appreciated and will never 

 be forgotten. 



As to the "indictment" in "Truth" which "The India 

 Rubber Journal" cites, it begins : 



"It would, of course, be as absurd as it is untrue to 

 suggest that the United States Government has willingly 

 become a party to a scheme, the object of which is to 

 injure the British plantation industry." 



This goes without saying. Why say it? 

 Continuing, "Truth" says : 



"But that the Government import restrictions are 

 being used to that end by a powerful and astute body 

 of American manufacturers I have not the slightest 

 doubt." 



No such body exists : American rubber manufactui'ers 

 buy for their own companies and not as a pool. Indeed 

 their keen competition time and time again has forced 

 the prices up to the advantage of the planter. 



Still continuing, this is presented : 



"For years it has been well known to the leaders of 

 the rubber industry that American manufacturers — the 

 consumers of two-thirds of the crop — are envious of our 

 ownership of th'e Eastern plantations." 



Here is a profound lack of understanding of American 

 psychology. Few Americans spend time envying. Nor 

 does the American rubber man have any feeling toward 

 those who built up the planting industry but friendly 

 appreciation. He realizes furthei" that the work was 

 not done from altruistic motives, and did not complain 

 when during the rubber shortage a few years ago the 

 planters got from him prices close to the three-dollar 

 mark. Those same high prices, when he was on con- 

 tract work, meant great financial loss, in some cases ruin, 

 but he felt that the planter had a perfect right to sell for 

 what he could get, and he paid without grumbling, and 

 furthermore without any feeling against the English. 



The indictment continues : 



"At times, in fact, more or less open threats have 

 been made that sooner or later they would make an 

 effort to capture the plantations." 



How does one "capture" plantations ? By purchase ? 

 A "threat" to buy, granting that any financially re- 

 sponsible party made it, which we doubt, is not a crime. 

 The seller need not sell. If he does, he gets value re- 

 ceived. F^urthermore the plantations would still doubt- 

 less remain on British territory, subject to British taxes 

 and British laws. 



Further on, this sin is laid on our shoulders. 



