Evening star., 1961-03-01


icrOphOne which can be
that are going on today. Would
you comment, please. on what
progress you feel might be
made?
A. No. I would hope that
they are fruitful.
@. Mr.. President, New Eng
land would like to know, sir, if
your administration is going
to take the limits off of the i'm
ports Of residual fuel oil.
Udall Action
i A. Well, as you know, the
Secretary Of the Interior re-
Gently provided for an increase
in the importation Of oil, Of
residual fuel oil. which hope
will be helpful.
@. Do you think he will take
the limits off completely, and
they say that is not sufficient
to help New England.
A. Well. we have to consider
the needs of the coal industry,
and the domestic producers,
and the needs Of New England,
and we are trying to reach a
balance which will protect the
public interest.
One matter which has con-
cerned me. Of course, has been
the sharp increase, IL per cent
in the cost Of fuel in the East
and Northeast United States.
That increase has seemed ex-
ceSsive, and as you know, sew
eral agencies Of the Govern-
ment are now investigating to
find out what was the cause of
that, what I would consider to
be an excessive increase.
In answer to your question,
we are attempting to reach a
balance.
Meriwether Nomination
@. Mr.. President, on the
nomination, sir. Of Charles Me-
riwether. is there. anything in
this mans background that
might embarrass your admins
tration?
A. No. I have sent Mr.. Meri-
wether's name up there after
reading the FB1 report and
other records.
@. Mr.. President, there is a
report that Vice President
johnson is setting up a special
office across the street from
yours. Does this indicate, sir,
that you plan to place before
him broader. perhaps unprece-
dented, executive responsible
ties?
A. Well, we have already in
dicated that he Is going to have
special responsibilities in the
field Of space. We are going
to recommend to the Congress
shortly that the Space Agency
be reconstructed, with the Vice
President instead Of the Presi-
dent as chairman. In addition,
he will have responsibilities in
the field Of employment oppor-
tunities, and also he Is con-
cerned as a member for many
years of the Armed Services
Committee Of the Senate, as
well as chairman Of the Sub
committee on Preparedness. He
has been concerned with ma
tional security matters general
ly. Therefore, it would seem to
me appropriate that he would
have some offices in the Exec
utive Office Building so that
he could meet these responsible
tiles most effectively.
Facts Investigated
@. Mr.. President, what sort
OF a response have you gotten
from ordinary citizens as a
result Of your appeal a couple
Of weeks ago for ordinary peo-
pie to write in about examples
Of waste in the Government
spending that they have noticed,
and have you any other exam
Piles which you could tell us
about besides the $4,000 Off
GERS club-$20, 900; excuse me.
A. We have received some
letters, and their reconimenda-
tions are being investigated to
find out If the facts are as they
state them. But we have none
to announce as yet.
@. Mr.. President, your row.
ing Ambassador to Africa has
been widely criticized for some
OF the statements he has made,
that is, Mr.. Williams, including
the one of Africa for Africans"
and the like.
Do you find any validity in
this criticism, and would you
consider that his tour Of Africa
has been a plus for the United
States policy?
A. Oh. ! DON'T think Gov.
Williams has done very well.
I am wholly satisfied with his
mission. It is a very difficult
one. Africa is not an easy
matter to--the problems of
Africa are not easy. There are
a good many conflicting forces
that are loose In Africa as we'll
as all parts Of the world. The
statement Of Africa for the
Africans" does not seem to me
to be very unreasonable state
ment. He made 1t clear chat
he was talking about all those
who felt that they were Aft =
cans. - whatever their color
might be. Whatever their race