Document 3QLRER9ygjqQ98BENkN1NK5EJ

FILE NAME: RT Vanderbilt (RTV) DATE: 1973 Jan 18 DOC#: RTV072 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Phone Call Record RE J-M & J&J Working to Develop Canadian Magnesite & Statements that RT Vanderbilt is Seriously Misusing the Talc Producer's Association to it's Own Ends TO FROM SUBJECT : 5, Spell R.S. Lamar INTER - OFFICE MMORANDUM DATE : Jfcary 18, 1973 Telephone conversation FOLLOW-UP : 1/16/73 vith William Ashton, Johnson & Johnson As you know, we have been working with Bill Ashton on the possible Joint development 0 MftgnesltP talc with J-M and J&J. Bill probably knows as ouch about talc as anyone. He is very honest and quite outspoken sometimes in expressing his opinion. He is a great person! .Bil'l Ashton is vary upset bout.;what R.T. Vanderbilt Company is trying to do through the Talc Producer's Association, and more particularly, what they are attempting to do by having Alan Harvey made chairman of the A.S.T.M. sub-committee to re-deflne "asbestos" . According to Ashton, they-also hope to define "talc" through this same commltte.. This is what has Ashton really upset! 1. know that both you and I came-away from our January 11, 1973 meeting at R.t, Vanderbilt .Company, New York City not agreeing with their definition; of "tretoolite". They are playing with words and ignoring facts. Ashton said today that they (Vanderbilt) plan to use this same A.S.T.H. committee to re-define-talc as: .1. Pure tala mineral (never found in nature). 2. Commercial talc which is-always associated with tremolite. Both definitions are not true but areobviously aimed at strengthening Vanderbilt's marketing position. These are obvious and deliberate attempts . by Vanderbilt to bend the truth. We have seen numerous samples of natural pure talc mineral. M a n y commerical talcs, even though they are not pure talc minerals, do not contain tremolite. I .do not believe,that We;,should allow Vanderbilt to proceed unchallenged, with this type; of-,approach. It might be very worth while-if you were to talk'^thiBill Ashton about all of this prior to "thfe forthcoming Talc Producer's Association meeting on February 5, at R.T. Vanderbilt Company offices New York'City. I It our very strong Relief that J-M should not endorse something ve know to be untrue even if it may help us in our present difficult position vith respect to tremoli'te. SSL :1k W.L. P.A. J.H. W.C. B.R. E.B. R.F, VanDerbeek Martinson/ Sharratt Sfreib Keefe Smith Bassett R.S. Lamar r , ti, I 5 - CRMC-MAD-000438