Evening star., 1952-04-21


mans letter to Vice President
Barkley in the steel case tolloDs::
My Dear Mr.. President:
The Senate has before it certain
proposed amendments to the third
supplemental appropriation bill
for the current fiscal year which
would restrict the use of appro-
|rriated funds for the operation of
steel mills under the executive
order of April 8, 1852. The impli-
cations of this amendment are of
such serious consequence, and
much of the debate concerning it
has been of such an extreme and
misleading character, that. feel
i should communicate with the
Senate on this subject.
On April 9, 1852. sent a mes
sage to the Congress. In that
message I stated that I had
ordered temporary operation of
the steel mills by the Government
with the utmost reluctance; that
the idea of Government operation
Iof the steel mills was thoroughly
distasteful to me, and that !
wanted to see it ended as soon as
possible.
Ready to Cooperate.
I also indicated that, if the
Congress wished to take action, ]
would be glad to cooperate in
developing any legislative pro-
posals the Congress might wish to
consider. That is still my posi-
ton. I have no wish to prevent
action by. the Congress. I do ask
that the Congress, if it takes ac-
ton, do so in a manner that
measures up to its responsibilities
in the light Of the critical Situa-
ton which confronts this country
and the whole free world.
I do not believe the Congress
can meet its responsibilities simply
by following a course of negation.
The Congress cannot perform its
constitutional functions simply by
paralyzing the operation of the
Government in an emergency. The
Congress can, If it wishes, reject
the course of action I have fol-
lowed in this matter. AS I in
dicated in my message of April 8,
ordered Government operation OF
the mills only because the avail
able alternatives seem to me to be
even worse. The Congress may
have a different judgment. It il
does, however, the Congress shoulc
do more than simply tell me what
I should not do.
should pass Affirmative legis'
lation to provide a constructive
course Of action looking toward Z
solution Of this matter which viii
be in the public interest.
Calls Operation Imperative.
I have regarded it as impera.
tive, for the sake of our Nationa
security. to keep the steel mills ir
operation. I should not. I think
be forced to public disclosure o1
information that would be o.
value to the enemy. However.
will say this: A shutdown in stee
production for any substantial
length of time whatever woult
Immediately reduce the ability O
our troops in Korea to defens
themselves against attack. If th'
Communists stage another often
sive this spring. the success o.
failure Of that offensive may vel
depend on whether or not we hav'
kept our steel mills in operation
This Is consideration over ant
above the drastic effect a stee
shutdown would have on our tota
defense effort.
| I hope that any Legislation
passed by the Congress on thi
subject will provide a method b.
which the steel mills can be KEEP
in continuous operation.
Some members Of Congress ma.
think the national emergenc,
provision Of the Taft-Hartley Ac
should have been invoked in thi
dispute. The fact is that, befor
April 8, we had already had tn
benefit of . better emergency pro
|cedure than that available unde
1.-THE Taft-Hartley Act.
i Recommendation Forbidden.
| The emergency provisions of th'
Taft Hartley Act provide for .