NOBODY IN Washington seems willing to admit for a moment that the end of

the war is in sight. The very idea is sedulously discouraged. Yet, almost everybody in the National Capitol, and a great many outside of it, seem to have a postwar plan shaping up. Everybody, that is, except members of Congress. And some members of that body are not a little upset because apparently some of the planners have neglected to ask Congress about their plans.

Members of Congress do not suggest it, but the fact is that no plan for a postwar America is going to get very far without Congress. Therefore the position of that body on postwar affairs, as they appear at this stage, in mid-war, is very important. Members themselves are inclined to feel that the planners are merely getting in each other's way until such time as some program is brought forward that repre­sents both the Capitol and uptown Wash­ington.

Just as a sidelight on this situation, almost every federal agency has its own planning group, busily at work. I t has been authentically estimated that more than 150 agencies and departments have such units. In addition, and not to be confused with these official planners, there are very few important trade associations, and business or industrial organizations outside the Government, that are not also working on after-the-war plans, either for their own industries, or in connection with some phase of governmental postwar programming.

In the final phase it is more likely that the thinking now being done outside of the Government will have more weight than some of it going on in Washington. Members of Congress are not overly cordial to some of the proposals that have come from the more prolific postwar thinkers, such as the National Resources Planning Board and the National Labor Relations Board. The latter has its planners, too, and the fact has led to some rather cryptic comment from members of

What the members really fear is that there will be so many plans and so many planners that somewhere an outside authority will have to marshall them all, and sift out the worthy projects and ideas. Obviously this would be a congressional function. And, when members of Con­gress discuss the subject, this is how they think it will develop. Many of them are seriously thinking about it, too, even though they do not burst forth with a plan very often.

One of the more concrete phases of the situation, is becoming evident at the Alien Property Custodian's office. It is fairly clear by this time that seized German properties will be handled on a much firmer basis than on the previous occasion In short, if present indications hold good later, many such properties will remain in other hands than their original owners'. Just how this will be arranged is another matter.

Foreign Patent Applications Made Public

This expectation is seemingly confirmed by action of the Alien Property Custodian in making public copies of the specifica­tions and drawings of foreign patent applications in his keeping. The applica­tions in Patent Ofiice Class 260, Organic Chemistry, were published in April and early MCay. Copies of all printed applica­tions may be inspected at Patent Office libraries, and in the Washington, New York, and Chicago offices of the APC.

The stated purpose in making such data available is to permit their use by Ameri­can industry in the war effort. As to what happens to them after the war, the answer rests in this phase of postwar planning.

First, it is evident that neither the United States nor other allied powers responsible for preventing any further outbreaks against the peace of the world, intends to leave Germany any weapons. If chemical processes, as in the case of gas, or components of war-making materials, come i n this category, obviously they are not going to be left unguarded in German possession.

How far this policy will carry is specu­lative now, but there are strong indica­tion? tnat present intention is to break up Germany's prewar industrial cartels. ThofC left from this move will he under strong safeguards. This is subject to change in the light of actual after-war conditions, of course.

The war has still to be won, in spite of all the thinking about what happens after­ward.

Supply of Wood Pulp One of tbe current problems is the

supply of wood pulp to be available to American industry in the remaining months of the year. In April, Canadian authorities confirmed earlier arrange­ments by which tbe United States i s re­ceiving substantial help in its wood pulp situation. Canada also is furnishing newsprint at the rate of 210,000 tons per

month to this country. The Canadian agreement provides for shipment to the United States of a total of 1,278,000 tons of pulp and 1,550,000 cords of wood dur­ing 1943, for manufacture of paper other than newsprint. The pulp shipment includes 107,000 tons of pulp additional in the second quarter of 1943, which helped avert a difficult situation at the time.

This extra 107,000 tons of pulp will not be available in the third quarter, Canada has now advised, so that War Production Board officials are warning that it may not be possible to maintain current paper production without drawing unduly on pulpwood and pulpwood stocks. An in­creased supply of pulpwood for pulp mills is the only remedy, it is indicated. Present labor conditions in the United States make this prospect a pessimistic one.

This leads into the broader picture of civilian economy in general. How far down it is yet to be pushed will be deter­mined for a period by the policies followed in the new civilian setup now being rushed through Congress. The trend is to ease up to some extent. Reduced estimates of some production requirements for war may help this along. Much will depend on war moves now taking shape as to whether this trend will continue.

In one direction, certainly, the trend is tighter—manpower. The same tendency to drain off men for service wherever they can be found is persistent, in spite of backfires earlier in the spring. Industries will feel this in the months ahead, whether the regular work week is lengthened or not.

Readers, Attention!

The Post Office Department has asked that the postal delivery zone appear on mail addressed to this office. Please bear this in mind in writing us and use our zone num­ber "6" following Washington, thus—Washington 6, D. C. This will facilitate more prompt delivery after the mail reaches Washington, and will be mutually advantageous.

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Potomac Postscripts by LYNNE M. LAMM