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jj . C A B L E G R A M S ' ETHYLPORT, LONDON. t el eg r a ms: ET H Y L -PORT , SO W E ST . ETHYL EX PORT CORPORATION In c o rp o ra te d in th e S ta te o f D e la w a r e . U . S . A . w i t h lim ite d lia b ility . T elephone: VICTORIA I " 9- <3- I THAMES HOUSE , MILLBANK LONDON, S.W. FMST/BH H ead Office: 1 3 5 E A S T 4 2 N-D S T R E E T NEW Y O R K , U .S. A Dr, R. A. Kehoe. 1st November, 1938 Dear Dr. Kehoe, ' Last week I made a trip to Brussels and visited Dr. Reels, whose name was recommended to you by Dr. Stassens of the Belgian Health Department. Dr. Roels appeared to be somewhat familiar with our plans for Belgium, presumably as a result of your visit to Dr. Stassens. - Dr. Roels has agreed to act as our medical adviser for a fee of 2,500 Belgian francs par annum, this to cover medical supervision of the mixing plant recently erected by Purfina. We anticipate, however, that further plants will be erected in Belgium in the near future and this of course will mean an increase in the fee to be paid to Dr. Roels. Dr,, Roels has had considerable experience in industrial hygiene and I understand from him he is very interested in the problems of lead intoxication. During our discussion, Dr. Roels mentioned that a small chemical manufacturing company by the name of "Compromat" had asked for his views in connection with the manufacture in Belgium of an anti-knock compound having a lead basis. We have known for some time that "Compromat" were experimenting on a laboratory scale with an anti-knock compound and it had come to our attention that they were planning to extend their activities and manufacture on a larger scale. We had been watching this matter closely in case the manufacture of this product resulted in an infringement of our patent rights. Just recently we have obtained a sample of "Comprethyl" (the name of the product in question) and upbn analysis it proved to contain a volatile lead compound^ The analysis is not yet complete but the indications are that the only useful anti-knock agent in "Comprethyl" is the lead compound. As of course you are aware, industries in Belgium which involve a health hazard are closely watched by the Medical Authorities and it is probable that Dr. Roels would be asked to approve the project of "Compromat" should they decide to build a factory. . . Dr. Roels feels that "Compromat" with their limited capital, would not be in a position to manufacture such a dangerous product in accordance with the necessary safety precautions that he himself would regard as essential. N17454 Sines Dr. Roels already views this project of "Compromat" with some disfavour, it occurred to us that it might help matters from both our point of view and also that of Dr. Roels, if when you write to him in connection with his agreement to act as our medical adviser in Belgium, you make some reference to the possible hazards involved in manufacturing a volatile lead compound for use as an anti-knock agent in gasoline I shall be seeing Dr. Roels again next week and will mention to him that since my last visit we have obtained the preliminary analysis of a sample of "Comprethyl" which would seem to establish definitely that this product does contain a volatile lead coirpound. Dr. Roels address is 32 Avenue des Azalees, Brussels and he is fully conversant with Englisho With kind regards, b COPY TO MR. CHAMPLUJ