Document gbm8qyZp6z5kEaLJXEorM1RdV

November k* 1935 Mr* E. W. Webb Ethyl Gaoolino Corporation Chrysler Building He York City He York Dear Mr* Webbt Having returned to my office this morning it seemed else to give you a brief summary of hat as accomplished in Mexico of hat the present situation Is there a n d o f hat should be done* X have .>a copy of a statement in Spanish issued by the Chief of the Petroleum Department of the Secretariat:? of National Economy in Mexico* X shall be receiving an accurate translation of this statement from Mr* Hickman within the next day or two and X sill forward a copy of it to you along with the Spanish copy signed both by myself and the Chief of the Department* Meanwhile the essential points in the statement are as follows 3 C D The Department accepts the official booklet of Regulations issued by the Ethyl Export Corporation as a basis for the regulation of the mixing of Ethyl Fluid with gasoline* (2) In view of the dangerous character of the Fluid it Is agreed that drums of Fluid shall b shipped into Mexico in full oar load lots customs Inspection to be made at the refinery to which the car Is shipped and not at the border* (In view of the fact that the mixing plant Is to be at Mexico City nothing was said for the moment about the shipment of Fluid by water* If the necessity arises for this at a later date the matter can be taken up with the Petroleum Department* It was not considered wise to discuss these details or to Include them in the memorandum at the time of our discussion*) 13) The propriety of^periPio visits on the part of field representatives of the Corporation and medical representatives of tho Corporation was recognized and It was agreed by the Department that it would facilitate the granting of permits to representatives of the Corporation for those purposes. ( k ) It was agreed that the only precautions required In the handling of the gasoline were the use of a color 911000 J # 2- Mr* Webb / and the use on pumps and containers of a sign* The sign agreed upon viaa the simplified form similar to that to be used in South America but with slight changes to correspond with Mexican Spanish. The sign agreed upon was as follows# ''Para Ser tJsad Solamente Bn Motores Contiene Plomo Traetlio" (5 ) The color agreed upon was blue. (6) The Department agreed to accept the entire Jurisdiction over the matter and to use its good offices in bringing the whole subject to the attention of the Various Secretaries of the state of Mexico such as the Department of Health eta, who might be concerned with the problem. All of the above agreed upon by the Chief of the '*Department la, of course, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Economa nacional. I saw and talked with the Sub-.secretary who stated that the approval^ of the Secretary was simply a matter of form. He assured me that the Department would be pleased to do everything it could to smooth out any difficulties which might arise. There is on possibility for difficulty in that I was told while in Mexico City that the jurisdiction of this entire matter might b changed and put In the hands of the Bureau of Industrial Hygiene of the Department of Public Health. It is not possible to make any prediction about changes of this sort in the Mexican government. Bo?*ever, 1 made a Courtesy call on the man who is in charge of the Bureau of Industrial Hygiene, discussed the matter with him in a very brief memorandum and gave him the various publications on the subject for his information. Ho request was made of him for any atatement of his position and he understood that my call on him was merely the courtesy shown by one medical man to another in relation to a field of work in which we were mutually interested. The way has been paved, therefore, for any subsequent developments and I was given every assurance that there would be very little difficulty. The acceptance on the part of the Mexican government of our general program involves the necessity for our full cooperation. It will be necessary for the Corporation to have a technical representative in Mexico City at the time of the completion of the mixing plant (which will be in about two weeks), for the purpose of inspecting the plant and instructing the men in carrying out the Initial mix. It has been agreed also that such technical representativos shall returp at intervals of not less than twice a year for a perlddlo Inspection K 0 0 0 116 4 3 Up Webb Petroleum Department The cooperation requires can be arranged for through the head office of Agulla who fully understand the requirements of the Department. Apparently all that la necessary la to establish personal contact with the Department and bo keep it acquainted with the activities of our field representative The question of medical supervision was not quit so simply arranged since no medical men other than a Mexican physician can assume the responsibility for the workmen and for such reports as are necessary to the Department* Accordingly although one of our own medical men can make the necessary examinations and can male hia recommendations to Agulla he will not have any official standing with the Mexican government I discussed the whole natter with Dr* Lynn of the Medical Department of Agulla who is quite willing to accept the cooperation of our medical staff in fact he wants very much to have on of myrassociates visit them from time to time but he will examine the men himself at regular intervals and will report to the government. It will be sufficient for our purposes to have Dr. sehradin viftit the plant in the coux*ae of his anriual trip and except for the fact that he will have no official standing his work there will be the same as at other points in the United States * . . '' ' 4* Mr. Branch of Agulla is making the necessary arrange ments for the permits for both Mr. Shell and Dr* Sehradin, I wired you aa X did about Mr* Littlefield only because it was necessary that permits be obtained as soon as possible in order that the inspectIon might be made within the next few weeks so as not to occasion delay but also to demonstrate to the government our good faith in the matter of car and supervision of the plant I see no reason why Mr Shell should not be able to take caro of the matter as adequately ad Mr. Littlefield but at the time X wrote you arid wired you X was under the Impress' on you might probably wish to have Mr. Littlefield complete the preliminary arrangements and then burn them over to someone elder* While X was in Mr Hlokmn^a office last Saturday afternoon he informed me that an order had been put in for Flu'd and that he would return the signed contract to you by air mail This templates so far as X can see the arrangements for initiating the distribution of leaded gasoline in Mexico and X do not believe there will be any further difficulties X dare say you will wish me to got in touch with Mr. Shell in order to acquaint him with any detailed Information of which he m y b in need bub X shall await your instruetlona in that matter* X am quit sure that the Agulla people will give him every assistance and cooperation* X found them exceedingly r* .* k fUr\ ^ebb pleasant people with whoa to deal and I feel cortain that they will follow through everything which they agreed to do in a eareful and orderly manner. tilth kindest personal regards, Sincerely yours. RAKila Kobert A. KoHoe,