Document Ozm2Bben3a418dqaoXVEKDJ0j

October lif-s1936 Dr. Graham Edgar Ethyl Gasoilns Corporation Chrysler Bn tiding New York City Hew York Dear Graham 1 I am sending you herewith a copy of my reply to Mr. B. P. Earland whose Inquiry you referred to me in your letter of September 28th* I originally thought of pointing out to him.that at the present time the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation issued no Instructions concerning the handling of gasoline. However I hesitated to put this on record In view of several matters? first* the Standard Oil Company of Indiana,{and perhaps other companies) has issued In structions which on their face appear to apply specifically to leaded gasoline* It would seem bad policy to openly state that they.have done this on their own responsibility although the latter is the case* Second* the Initial regulations published by the United States Public Hedfcth Service have not been officially modified* and so far as I know the Service has not put:itself on record as approving of our discontinuance of leaflets of Instructions and regu lations at filling stations* `Eheir point of view In this is similar to mine* I am not sure that they would publicly agree with me on the record If for no other reason than that they would consider.too-close an agreement between us as bad policy* 'Wo might* therefore* appear to have neglected the carrying out of the regulations if I were to state specifically that we had not Issued any kind of Instructions* I do not believe all this Is of great importance* but X have been very cautious in replying to this gentleman because I have not wished to get us Into any awkward position* I have taken the trouble* therefore* to express what I have said about It as my own personal opinion without saying anything about the practices and responsibilities of the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation. I make this clear In my letter to you because, as you know* .%% is not ray custom to hedge on matters of this sort, and because, also* one deals with certain members of the legal group at his own peril. Sincerely yours. N20453