Document 7MLqM0DZDor6byKgbKmqpBg6R

July 25, 1960 Air Mall Dr. K. D. Fairley 421, St. Hilda Hoad Melbourne, S.C.2 AUSTRALIA CONFIDENTIAL Dear Doctor Fairley: Before I left London after making a trip around Western Europe with Dr. Barry and others of Associated Ethyl Company, Limited, I Joined with Dr. Barry in composing a letter to you about your looking into the matter of the use of tetramethyl lead in Australia. You will recall our original correspondence of years ago, and you will know from Dr. Barry's letter that I have continued to act as a consultant to Associated Ethyl. It so happens that I am acting also for Ethyl Corporation and duPont at this time so as to deal with the whole problem in a uniform and satisfactory manner. It so happens that one of the oil companies in this country is very much concerned for its own interests in Australia, and one of their representatives may even write to you directly. I have indicated to him that this is not necessary, but if he should do so, I should wish you to understand his'position. His company may or may not obtain its supply of antiknock from the U.S.A. through Associated Ethyl, although I should certainly think it would do so eventually. But the only source of supply is ir the U.S.A. at present, and this fact complicates the situation. This group wish to move rapidly and competitively with respect to other companies in your area and they fear a leak of information to a competitor. . These matters are of little concern to ourselves in our role in preventive medicine and hygiene, but I do not wish to be, nor do I wish you to be, the avenue through which any such information is misplaced. I have been careful, therefore, not to mention the name of the company to you, and I trust that if this comes to your attention from any other source, you will deal with it in confidence, if for no other reason than that I shall be greatly embarrassed if any of us should have any responsibility for it. The preceding matter is not the main purpose of this letter, but the viewpoint of the company in question has Just been brought to my attention and I feel taat I should speak of it. I write primarily to ask you to write to me directly (by means of a copy of your letter to London if you choose) concerning 0008279 N9660 Dr. K. D. Fairley 2 July 2g, 1960 the matters referred to in Dr. Barry's letter. I think it unlikely that there would be much delay in the transmission of your information from London to me, but Dr. Barry is in the United States at present and Mr.Bevan is planning to be out of London shortly, I believe, and it may well be a matter of considerable importance to me as well as to Associated Ethyl, to know just what to expect of this matter in your country. Mr. Sevan is entirely in agreement with me in believing that everything in this connection should proceed in an orderly and undisturbed manner. We might create a very considerable problem for ourselves by allowing this to get into a questionable or controversial situation, whereby the hygienic authorities might be put at a disadvantage or consider themselves to have been incompletely informed or misinformed. Or blatant advertising of a new lead compound might create a, competitive situation that would result in reprisals to the discredit of tetramethyl lead, or even tetraethyl lead. I am not anticipating any such difficulties, but I have always believed it necessary to handle these matters properly, and early information will help me deal intelligently with the situation at this end of the line. I am glad to have the opportunity of corresponding with you directly, and I shall be pleased to have word from you at your early convenience. Sincerely yours, Robert A. Kehoe, M. D. Dictated but not read RAf:ss cc: Mr. T. R. A. Bevan 00082GO