Document 4pYzM1Yme2Ga85k2DoJ6KYbR

INTER.OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE Et hyl Gaso l ine Cor po r at ion CHRYSLER BUILDING 405 Lex in g t o n Avenue Ne w Yo r k June 17, 1940 Dr. Robert A. Kehoe Dear Dr. Kehoe After our discussion the other day, I sat down and.wrote the enclosed memorandum which I think will give you a fair picture of conditions in the East as I last saw them. I am sending a copy of this to Hugh Fossett and also one to Mr. Batchelor who is in Melbourne. Yours very truly, ACT:Meg Enclosure Alan C. Tully A MEMORANDUM COVERING THE MEDICAL SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE FAR EAST AUSTRALIA The medical situation in Australia merits no great concern inasmuch as Dr. Keith/Fairley is one of the most cooperative medical consultants that our Company could expect. During my six and one-half years' service, I found Dr. Fairley to be most helpful and he worked very closely with me in establishing routine, etc., for himself and the other doctors in that area. At the present time, Dr. Fairley is located in Melbourne and al though he has certain military duties, I do not expect that his work on our behalf will be at all hampered. We also have doctors in Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. There is a possibility that necessity may bring about the construction of additional blending plants and a sudden state of emer gency may make it necessary for us to resort to mobile blending units such as have been developed in England, but I feel that our staff and our medi cal consultants are well qualified to handle whatever situation arises. NEW ZEALAND Although the blending activities in New Zealand have increased con siderably during the past two years, Dr. Alan Park of Wellington has found it possible to handle all the work by himself even though it necessitates considerable traveling. Dr. Park has had many years of experience and is most reliable. No great change in operation is anticipated in New Zealand but due to New Zealand's interest in the present war, emergency conditions are always a probability. JAVA (N.E.I.) We have two doctors in Java: Dr. Hamacher, who is located in Soerabaja and Dr. dePriester, who is located in Batavia. Both of these doctors do work for our customer, the Bataafsche Petroleum Mij., which is a subsidiary of the Shell Oil Company. Dr. Hamacher is very particular about his work and during my visits accompanies me to the blending plant where he evidences a keen interest in all matters pertaining to blending operations. Dr. dePriester had acquired a rather pessimistic view of the dangers connected with the handl ing of Ethyl fluid and it will be recalled that we had certain discussions on the periodic urinalyses. However this subject has been discussed with him and, as a result of communications from Dr. Kehoe, Dr. dePriester has assumed a far more optimistic and desirable attitude towards the subject: I would not like to create the impression that Dr. dePriester is in any way too particular nor have I tried to discourage him from being particular with respect to his work for us. However, it is interesting to note that the Dutch Government,as far as the East Indies is concerned, is most meticulous with regard to all matters which involve a danger of any sort and, as a result of this, people have automatically taken on this attitude themselves. Naturally I do not wish to discourage such an attitude, but there are times when it becomes rather 1 difficult to introduce a product which is in any way associated with danger, without "bringing down a lot of regulations, etc., all of which may not be absolutely necessary. I am very pleased about the situation in Java inasmuch as the plants are operated very well and we have good medical supervision. I am not of the opinion that there will be any increase in the number of blend ing plants in this country but as the Indies are now at war, there is the possibility that emergency blending arrangements may be considered, but I should assume that this would be taken up by the Shell Company on behalf of B.P.M. BORNEO At Balik-Papan the B.P.M, have one of their refineries and in connection with this they operate an Ethyl blending plant* The doctor who examines employees working on the Ethyl plant in connection with handling of Ethyl fluid is a re finery doctor, called Dr. Sprenger, who carries out our examinations without fee. This blending plant used to be of great importance but a rearrangement of mar keting and producing has detracted considerably from this plant's popularity and as a result we find that its burden has been taken over by the plants at Soerabaja, Batavia and Pladjoe. I would not assume that we can expect any in crease in blending work at this point and I feel quite convinced that the medi cal supervision that we have provided is quite adequate . PHILIPINES The Standard Vacuum Company are now operating a plant at Manila and our medical consultant in that area is Dr. Honor, who at the same time is Director of the Manila Sanitorium. There is a confusion existing in Dr. Honor's mind as to the details of his duties which were made knovm to him some time prior to the opening and initial operation of the Standard Vacuum blending plant. This condition was made necessary by the fact that my trips to the East were on an annual basis, and we attempted to make Dr. Honor's original interview come as close to the commencement of his work as possible. Actually, hov/ever, there was some time between his instruction and his putting such instruction into actual use. During my last visit in early February this year, we cleared up all misunderstanding which Dr. Honor had and dispelled the fears which Stan dard Vacuum Company entertained. It was perhaps unfortunate that the Standard Vacuum complaint gained such popularity because a note to me in Melbourne would have corrected the situation in a few weeks. In the future, I feel that this course will be pursued rather than transmitting alarming information to those in various parts of the world who are not directly interested and perhaps had no specific knowledge of conditions in Manila. CHINA We have enjoyed, for quite a number of years, the assistance, in a medical way, of Dr. Balean. He has very ably taken care of our interests in Hong Kong and has kept a sharp watch over the blending personnel for the Texas Company, the Asiatic Petroleum Company and the Standard Vacuum Oil Company. Each of the companies mentioned operates an aviation blending plant in this area, but there is very little activity just now due to the fact that Hong Kong is very much cut off from the rest of China and, as a result, the business which that city 2 a- ' " carried on has been reduced to a very small amount. Dr. Balean is not a young man and his family have been trying to persuade him to give up his practice. This information was passed on to me by him in February, 194-0, and, at that time he suggested that if he_ ever gave in to his family's wishes, he would like very much for us to appoint his son as our consultant. Young Dr. Balean is in the same firm of doctors and he has at times done work for his father in connection with the examination of employees. There is no doubt that we would do well to keep this in mind when Dr. Balean actually retires. As far as the rest of China is concerned, we still maintain medical supervision in Shanghai, Hankow and Chungking. Latest reports indicate that a little spasmodic blending is done in Shanghai but that Chungking and Hankow have ceased blending operations due to the partial occupation of this territory by the Japanese. Supplies of aviation gasoline come to Chungking and Hankow through the back roads of China from Burma and Hanoi* Canton has also been closed down for several years and is not destined to open up until conditions return to normal. Medical consultants have been appointed in these war-besieged cities, but no Ethyl representative has visited them since 1937. Under war conditions, I do not believe we can do anything to better the situation especially as the plants themselves can hardly be consider ed operating. FRENCH INDO-CHIHA The French Government has asked the Shell Company, through its subsidiary, to construct a blending plant for Government use at Hanoi. N> progress had been made at the time of my quick passage through this country in February, but I was able to see Shell's Sales Manager, Mr. Hanson, in Saigon, and a report was submitted subsequently to Mr, Fossett in London, which covered both the physical and the medical aspects. It is assumed that this plant construction has gone ahead, along lines usually employed by the Shell Company. Here, as in the Dutch East Indies, there is always the possibility of emer gency conditions arising and therefore we may be faced with rather unusual conditions as far as blending plants are concerned, if the worst happens. A doctor who is associated with the Shell Company has been suggested for our consultant at Hanoi and details concerning him have been dispatched to London. THAILAND (SIAM) The one blot on our record in the East happens to lie in Bangkok. It was apparent that the blending plant, as constructed by the Siamese, is a dupli cate of the blending plants which are constructed by the Japanese in Japan. This assumption is based on the fact that not only the blending plant but the entire refinery, which has been recently constructed, was built under contract by the Japanese Government. During my visit in late February the entire sub ject of medical regulations, and regulations governing the construction and operation of blending plants, was taken up in great detail with the heads of the Siamese Defense Department, and as a result of our discussions, it was as sumed that numerous changes vrould be made to bring the blending plant and blend ing system into full agreement with our recommendations. I am sorry to say that up to this time I have had no assurance that this has been done. A Siamese 0006379  .. - doctor was interviewed and his name and record have been submitted to Dr. ICehoe through our London office, but I am of the opinion that his services will be of no great value to us unless we are certain that the blending plant, and its operation, is in full agreement with our ideas. Inasmuch as this is a Govern ment venture, no English or foreign doctor could be selected since he would be refused admission to the blending plant. Bangkok presents a rather unknown quantity and it is my recommendation that we place the responsibility on the shoulders of the Defense Department, after acquainting them with the dangers involved. No stone was left unturned, during my visit, to accentuate the neces sity for their constructing a plant in keeping with our suggestions and plans, in fact great stress was placed on the necessity of making an exact duplicate of the plants shown on our blueprints and of their carrying out our regulations to the letter. Upon my leaving the country, I' was quite convinced that the individuals I contacted were quite sincere as to their promises, but since con siderable time has passed it would appear that their enthusiasm lasted very little longer than my visit and I personally do not feel confident that this plant is in satisfactory shape. SINGAPORE The Asiatic Petroleum Company operate several blending plants in the Singapore area, which now is under full military control. Dr. H.C. Bain has been working our interests for a number of years and is not only fully compe tent but is very cooperative and helpful to us. Since war started, the bomb proof blending plant at Woodlands has been operated at periodic intervals. There is no great secrecy as to the construction of this plant other than that it is located at one of the Air Ministry gasoline dumps, and that it is constructed so as to resist destruction by shells or bombs. Naturally it can be assumed that this plant lacks perfect air circulation, but steps have been taken to neutralize this characteristic by extra precautions and shorter operat ing time. In a matter such as this, there is no part we can play other than to recommend that precautions be taken where departuresfrom our regulations are made. I feel confident that the Asiatic Petroleum Company will be just as interested as we to see that no unfortunate accidents take place. During my visit, it was passed on to me confidentially that another blending plant is to constructed in the near future which may be one of a series of plants that will be scattered about the settlement and used in place of existing plants should actual fighting break out in this area. The proposed plants are to be constructed underground, as are the gasoline storage tanks which will contain the blended stock. Concrete slabs are constructed over the storage tanks at some distance below the earth's surface to act as an extra protection for ap paratus located beneath. The blending units are located in underground passage ways which lead from transportation facilities to the gasoline storage tanks. These also have added protection supplied by reinforced concrete slabs con structed above them and below the ground. Forced air ventilation will be used while the plants are in operation and all present' regulations and precautions will be carried out to the letter. As this subject is naturally confidential, presentation of further details is not possible, but should an emergency condi tion arise, we might see quite a number of these blending plants throughout this area. 0306330 4 We are somewhat fortunate in having one of our staff members, Mr. G.H. Noble, located in Singapore. He is not entirely free to handle matters per taining to our interests as he is actually with the Royal Air Force, but should an emergency occur, Mr. Noble's connections are well known and he can be called in on any matters which pertain to blending plants, etc., made necessary by the emergency. I believe fir. Bevan has hopes of using Mr. Noble on further inspec tion work in the East if conditions permit. SUMATRA We now have two blending plants in Sumatra: one operated by B.P.M. at Pladjoe, and the other operated by Standard Vacuum at Palambang. In the case of B.P.M., this plant was just nearing completion during my visit early in March, 194-0, and it was apparent that the same acceptable features were to be expected there such as are usually found at all Shell blending plants. This plant in particular, being connected with the largest refinery in the East, is built on a large scale and will be dealing with large quantities. I do not expect that this will call for any departures from our regulations. The refinery doctor will be examining the individuals working in the plant and since he is retained by the refinery, there will not be need for a fee in this case. The Standard Vacuum Company have had a blending plant at Palambang for a good number of years. This plant produces lead-treated motor gasolines for Australia and New Zealand. They have recently constructed an aviation gaso line producing unit at this plant and are contemplating the construction of an aviation blending plant which will be located adjacent to the existing plant. A refinery doctor assumes responsibility for examinations in this case and up to date the supervision and operation in this plant have been excellent. GENERAL NOTES Throughout the East abnormal stocks of Ethyl fluid are in evidence. This is made necessary by conditions and our customer companies have done all they can to provide adequate storage facilities for quantities which are well above their normal requirements. Although there was some concern given to the handling of such huge stocks, I can assure all individuals concerned that there is no need for any worry in this respect. New York June 17, 1940 % \(t 0906931 5 Alan C. Tully