POLICY CHANGE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29801, 18 April 1962, Page 15

POLICY CHANGE

“No Action On Steel” (NZ. Press Assn. —Copyright; WASHINGTON, April 17. President Kennedy’s Administration has decided on a policy of live and let live in regard to the steel industry, according to the “New York Times.” Government and public opinion pressures against the industry would be “demobilised.” the newspaper said. The decision to restore peace between the White House and big steel, according to highly-placed sources, was based on a desire to avoid further exacerbation of relations between the Administration and the business community. One practical result of the decision presumably might be a relaxation of the zeal with which the Government pressed the Federal grand jury investigation in New York of the steel industry’s pricing practices, the newspaper said. Another might be a relaxation of democratic pressures in Congress for a searching investigation of big steel and new anti-trust legislation. •

The feeling at the White House, according to men close to the President, was that Mr Kennedy had won his battle and reaped a big political bonus in the process and that it would be unwise to dissipate the victory in vindictiveness.