Memorandum, Notes on Meeting with the Labor Group

Meeting With the Labor Group 4:45 P. M. Dr. Steelman and Mr. Stowe immediately met with the labor group indicating the suggestions of the industry group that a joint statement be issued and no other statements be made, assuming that the negotiations were being terminated. Mr. Murray felt that the negotiations should be terminated and not suspended. There was no use holding out false hopes either to his membership or to the country that negotiations under the conditions that seemed to be apparent to him would prove to be valuable. He further stated that if negotiations were terminated he could not agree to a simple joint statement but that he would have to toll the truth as he saw it. At that point Dr. steelman and Mr. Stowe returned to the industry room and informed them of Mr. Murray's point of view. The industry members agreed that the conference should be broken up and expressed concern lest incrininating remarks might be made if the parties began to make individual statements. (As a purely subjective observation it appeared that industry was somewhat concerned that Mr. Murray would delve into the price issue, since he had confirmed the industry's position on this point at the last joint session.) It was agreed, however, that Dr. Steelman would issue inmediately the statement which had been prepared, a copy of which is attached, and that the parties would issue their own statement. At Dr. steelman's suggestion it was agreed that Mr. Stephens and Mr. Murray would meet with a visw to discussing these separate statements.