Evening star., 1946-10-29
Lewis and Kruq
Differ on Terms
Of Mine Farley
Strike Seems Averted:
Reversal of U. S. Stund
Seen by UNIV Chief
By jones Y. Newton

!. The immediate threat of
Soft coal strike apparently had
been averted today, but inter-
pretations varied as to the terms
under which the Government
will meet with John L. Lewis
Friday.
Mr.. Lewis interpreted telegraphic
request for meeting from Secretary
Of Interior Krug as meaning that
the Government had changed it's
mind and decided to give in to the
Lewis demand for reopening the
United Mine Workers contract on
wages and other issues. Accordingly,
Mr.. Lewis said he. would not go
through with his threat to void the
contract which surely would have
caused the miners to walk out.
But, in Tahoe City, Calf, where
Mr.. Krug is continuing his Western
inspection trip, a spokesman for the
Secretary said the action in arrang-
ing the Friday meeting of Navy
Capt. N. H. COLLISION, coal mines
administrator, with Mr. Lewis is
compliance only with Mr.. Lewis
request for meeting"
Does Not Mean Reopening.
Does that telegram tMr. Krug's
to Mr.. Lewis mean the Government
will reopen the coal contract?" the
Krug spokesman was asked.
1T does not say that" he replied.
The spokesman then was asked
whether Mr.. Lewis was correct in
interpreting the reply as a COM
piance with his letter demanding
a conference reopening the contract.
The Secretary's communication
Is compliance only with Mr.. Lewis
request for meeting" he answered.
Lewis Reaction Is Unknown.
just what Mr.. Lewis reaction
would be to this clarifi.a ton of the
Krug message was not known i'm
mediately. Mr.. Krug earlier had
offered 10 meet with the mine lead
er, but Mr.. Lewis answer was that
the present wage agreement under
which the Government had oper-
ated the seized mines since May 20
would be declared void unless Mr..
Krug talked turkey on a new agree
ment.
1t was considered likely that Mr.,
Lewis might blast the Government
and cancel the contract anyway If
he finds Fridays meeting is not a
reopening of the contract.
Mr.. Lewis called in newsmen and
made public Mr.. Krug's request for
the meeting and his reply. The
Secretary's telegram read:
Replying to your letter of Oc-
tober II, am requesting that you
andfor your representatives meet
with Coal Mines Administrator Col
lissQp and his associates on Novem-
Der or any other date agreeable
to you"
Sees Message as Compliance.
The letter referred to by Mr..
krug was the one in which Mr.,
Lewis charged the Government had
preached the contract and in which
iAS aOhApkA0So NOHGIls
Der l to begin negotiations on a new
agreement.
Mr.. Lewis reply to the Krug tele-
gram read:
Il esteem your telegram 9th re-
ceived by me today as compliance
with request for official conference
contained my letter October 21.
Il accordingly advise that repre-
|sentatives of the United Mine
Workers will meet with Coal Mines
Administrator COLLISION and his as
sociates at IL o'clock am. on Friday,
November /.
Under these conditions Krug-
Lewis agreement remains effective
and unchanged during ensuing Pc
riod of negotiations.
At about the time Mr.. Lewis was
holding his press conference, Presi-
dent Truman called in newsmen to