334 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 194 5 



TWENTY YEARS BEFORE WORLD WAR II 



The occupation of the Philippine Islands and the Netherlands East 

 Indies by the Japanese early in 1942 eliminated for the time being, 

 insofar as the Western Hemisphere was concerned, the entire world 

 supply of abaca fiber. In view of the happenings of this period, it is 

 of interest to observe the manner in which this situation was foreseen 

 20 years earlier by a fiber specialist in the United States Department 

 of Agriculture. The following statements relating to this subject are 

 portions of an official government memorandum prepared in November 

 1921: 



The problem of establishing the production of abaca on a commercial scale in 

 Tropical America is one that has been considered for many years. With the 

 changes that are taking place in the industrial situation in the Philippine Islands, 

 and with the uncertain political status of that country, this problem of making 

 adequate provisions for an assured future supply of abaca fiber is one that must 

 sooner or later receive attention. During the past 2 years I have had occasion 

 at different times to discuss this subject with several of the prominent cordage 

 manufacturers in this country. These men regard the present abaca situation 

 with considerable apprehension, and strongly urge that an attempt be made to 

 establish a source of supply of this fiber in Tropical America. 



The existing abacd situation. — The average annual consumption of abaca fiber 

 in the United States for the past 12 years has been approximately 72,000 tons. 

 This amount is about one-half the total world production of this fiber. The 

 principal uses of abaca fiber in the United States are for the manufacture of the 

 best grades of marine cordage, well-drilling cables, and transmission rope. This 

 fiber is also used for a great variety of other purposes, including the manufacture 

 of binder twine and various kinds of cordage. For purposes where exceptional 

 strength, a marked degree of elasticity, or resistance to the action of salt water 

 are required, there is no other known fiber that is a satisfactory substitute for 

 abacd. An adequate supply of abacd fiber is essential to the continued operation 

 of the American cordage industry. An adequate supply of Manila rope is a 

 highly important factor in the maintenance of the L T nited States Navy and the 

 merchant marine, in the production of mineral oil, in the construction of buildings, 

 and in many other industries. The entire world supply of abacd fiber, with the 

 exception of a few hundred bales, is now produced in the Philippine Islands. 

 During the past 3 years 99.5 percent of the total supply of abacd fiber consumed 

 in the United States has been obtained by direct shipment from the Philippine 

 Islands. 



Elements of danger in this situation. — The existing abacd situation is a striking 

 instance of having "all of our eggs in one basket," with that basket on the oppo- 

 site side of the world, and with no action being taken to remedy or even modify 

 these conditions. The essential elements of danger in this situation are as 

 follows : 



1. In the event of war with any nation having a strong navy, the United States 

 would presumably lose control of the Philippine Islands for a considerable period 

 of time, and its supply of abacd would be entirely cut off at a time when there 

 would be urgent need for an abundant supply of this fiber. 



2. When the United States relinquishes political control of the Philippine 

 Islands, our future supply of abacd will be highly uncertain. It is a fact of no 

 small significance that the Japanese within the past few years, have obtained 



