Document Kd4oLaJVxqpRj7ZyqG7qnV7x

December 1, 1950 Air Mail Mr. C. H. Noble, The Associated Ethyl Company Limited, Artillery House* Artillery Rov, London, S .W.1, England. Dear Beeryi I vas sorry indeed to have your letter of October 12 vith its bad nevs. It vould have had a reply from me promptly, if there had been anything I could do about it. The only thing I can do or say is to support your position that adequate supervision must be provided in the performance of vcrk of this sort. Both in this country and elsevhere,ve have repeatedly had evidence brought to us that it is essential to have someone on the scene vho will insist upon the necessary precautionary measures. Unfortunately, it is quite certain, that men who have worked on jobs of this sort vithout bad consequences, vill come to regard the precautions as excessive and unnecessary. Under such circumstances a tragedy is alvays necessary to provide proof. The proof has been provided time after time,; but unfortunately it does not come to the attention of th right people in such a vay as to convince them and keep them convinced. With respect to your letter of November 2 and the nevs about Japan, all I can tell you is that the situation is entirely fluid. The matter of manufacturing activities has been raised as a question, but not as a matter cf definite policy so far a3 any of us in Ethyl Corporation know. It seems most unlikely, and, in fact, I should think it impossible that any very serious action vould be taken in this matter by Ethyl Corporation vithout consulting me. I think it is fair to say that the point of view concerning the manner in which knanufacturing activities vould be carried on in Japan, if they have to be, vould be the same in New York as they vould be in London. I feel confident that Ethyl Corporation vould not like to embark upon a share of a manufacturing enterprise :ln Japan. Circumstances might be such that it vould be compelled to do so, but I feel sure that it vould be done vith the utmost reluctance,and only as a last resort. On the other hand, I feel sure that the position would not be taken that such activities vould be a matter of little or no consequence to Ethyl Corporation, and that they should be embarked on by somebody else vithout participation on the part of Ethyl Corporation. It vould seem to me, that the only circumstance in which Ethyl Corporation vould be content to have someone else do the job vould be that of its being undertaken under the guidance and direction of Associated Ethyl. All of this at the present time seems improbable, but the world is full of improbabilities at the present time, and I am in no position to anticipate vhat may come of military and political and economic developments in.the Far East. Mr. C.H. Noble - (2) - December 1, 1950 I shall certainly keep my eye on the situation, and therefore anything further that comes to your attention might well be passed on to me for my inforaaticn. It seems likely that I will know about it from other sources, but I would prefer that you would make no assumptions in that regard. i ' , As it happens Bill Machle is in Japan at the present time on some mission. I have no idea of what he is doing or with whom he is dealing, but I have a notion that he will know something about this matter when he rturns, and I shall certainly tap his information at the earliest possible time. With all best regards to yourself and your associates, Sincerely yours. RAK ef Robert . Kehoe, M. D. 0021347