Document xMYarjwwX9yZXYG62JMD4G71

,1 \ CALIFORNIA RESEARCH CORPORATION SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA X-105A PILE 120.431 CONVERSATION tfITH ETHYL MANAGEMENT_________________ JANUARY 28, i960 Phone conversations with Messrs. Turner and Murdock this morning brought forth the following: A Mr. Bender of Petroleum Week had put together an arti cle for release in that magazine covering the subject of tetra methyl lead. Apparently the draft had been discussed previously with Du Pont, Socony Mobil, and Esso. The draft was not read, so all details are not known, but two items were of interest. In the first place, the statement was made that the Surgeon General was going to approve the use of this material, and in the second place, it was pointed out that the first use appeared to be aimed at foreign markets because of the distribution problems encountered in cars from those areas. The implication apparently is quite strong that no use is expected in the United States, at least in the near future. Ethyl objected to the reference to the Surgeon General, and Mr. Bender told them subsequently that the Du Pont Company had made similar criticisms. It is not known whether the final form of the article will be made available to the four companies so far ap proached, but it is quite certain that an article of this general type will appear in an early issue of the periodical. Ethyl is convinced that the subject article along with those previously released by Socony Mobil and Esso Research and Engineering will cause the California authorities to ask the lead suppliers what they know about tetramethyl lead. Ethyl has, as a result of the difficulty with the fourth milliliter approval, agreed to advise the California authorities before any move is made. They feel if they do not advise the California people, pointed questions will be put to them. Messrs. Turner and Murdock were advised that, after consideration of the proposal to have Dr. Kehoe acquaint , the California authorities with the properties of tetramethyl lead, it was decided to await until just before the introduction of Standard's gasoline with X-105A. They were concerned about the position that they, or we, would be in if they had to make a state ment prior to commercial use. Messrs. Turner and Murdock were also advised of the deci sion to use "Methyl" instead of "Methylane". Mr. Murdock reiterated *# 2- - that they would prefer to have some word other than "Methyl" em ployed, but he would again review it with their people to see if there were any insurmountable objections. In view of the strategic importance to both the Ethyl Corporation and Western Operations, Inc. of the identifying name and the timing of the announcement to the California authorities, it was suggested and agreed that Mr. Turner will phone Mr. Vesper directly. JRM/lu /_ cc: Dr. R. A. Kehoex cc: Mr. H. G. Vesper Mr. W. W. Davison Mr. P. L. Fahrney Mr. B. W. Pickard Mr. J. T. Higgins Mr. F. L. Craise Mr. R. G. Gardner Mr. A. L. Lyman Mr. A. L. Snow Mr. A. H. Batchelder J. R/.'MacCRS60R i 0003004