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I do not want the Government to have to fix terms and
conditions of employment. That is your job, not ours. If we must
take action it will be something that is not satisfactory to either
side. But we will have no choice if you cannot agree.
I consider it extremely unfortunate that the Government
may find itself in a position where it has to fix the terms and
conditions of employment in an industry.
However, the purpose of these meetings is not to discuss
terms and conditions of employment during Government operation.
The purpose is to try to reach an agreement between the parties so
that Government operation can be brought to an end.
In these meetings, you have the opportunity to settle this
dispute as it should be settled. You can reach agreement if you have
the will to do so.
You have all been over the issues between you many times. Days
and weeks have already been spent in negotiations. You know which points
are the crucial ones. You know this matter can be settled in a few hours.
In the interest of your country, for the welfare of the
United States, and for the welfare of the World, I am asking you to
make that settlement.
We all know that a big issue in this whole controversy
TRUMAN
is the steel companies' claim for higher prices as a result of any
wage increase that might be agreed upon. As I have said on a number
of occasions, there is only one proper way to settle this entire
bs ARCHIVES & "NATIONAL RECORDS ADMIN." John
controversy. First, the parties should reach agreement on the
issues in dispute between them. Then, the companies should present
their claims for price increases to the proper Government officials.
On their part, the stabilization officials of the Government
are prepared to consider the steel companies' claims on their merits,
and to make sure that the steel companies receive whatever price
adjustment they are entitled to under the law.
Gentlemen, the eyes of the Nation are upon you as you meet
here in the White House today. You represent two powerful economic
groups who have contributed immeasurably to the greatness of our
country. You have great power; and, because of that fact, you all have
great responsibility. You have achieved your strength in a democracy
which places its faith in the ability of its people to work out their
own problems as reasonable men in the national interest. I urge you
to reaffirm that faith by settling your differences now in this time
of critical national need.
This room -- the President's Cabinet Room -- is yours for
these meetings. Somo great decisions affecting the welfare of our
country have been made in this room. Your agreement on a settlement
of this dispute would rank with any of them as a contribution to the
common defense and the general welfare of our Nation.
I am asking John Steelman to sit with you, to help you
in trying to reach an agreement, and to keep me constantly advised
of your progress.
Now, gentlemen, I have never felt as strongly about anything
as I do about this situation. We have a national defense program which
is right on the verge of success.
For seven years, from April 12, 1945, until now, I have spent
my whole time trying to keep this country out of a third world war.
If we can get the economic situation and the defense situation
in Western Europe through to a successful conclusion, and that depends
on steel, if we can get the situation in the Far East settled on a basis
that is fair to all concerned, I am just as sure as I sit here that
we'll get a world peace. And with the development of the world after
that world peace, there won't be a chance for our industry to catch up
with the demand.
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"ocrText": "- 2 -\nI do not want the Government to have to fix terms and\nconditions of employment. That is your job, not ours. If we must\ntake action it will be something that is not satisfactory to either\nside. But we will have no choice if you cannot agree.\nI consider it extremely unfortunate that the Government\nmay find itself in a position where it has to fix the terms and\nconditions of employment in an industry.\nHowever, the purpose of these meetings is not to discuss\nterms and conditions of employment during Government operation.\nThe purpose is to try to reach an agreement between the parties so\nthat Government operation can be brought to an end.\nIn these meetings, you have the opportunity to settle this\ndispute as it should be settled. You can reach agreement if you have\nthe will to do so.\nYou have all been over the issues between you many times. Days\nand weeks have already been spent in negotiations. You know which points\nare the crucial ones. You know this matter can be settled in a few hours.\nIn the interest of your country, for the welfare of the\nUnited States, and for the welfare of the World, I am asking you to\nmake that settlement.\nWe all know that a big issue in this whole controversy\nTRUMAN\nis the steel companies' claim for higher prices as a result of any\nwage increase that might be agreed upon. As I have said on a number\nof occasions, there is only one proper way to settle this entire\nbs ARCHIVES & \"NATIONAL RECORDS ADMIN.\" John\ncontroversy. First, the parties should reach agreement on the\nissues in dispute between them. Then, the companies should present\ntheir claims for price increases to the proper Government officials.\nOn their part, the stabilization officials of the Government\nare prepared to consider the steel companies' claims on their merits,\nand to make sure that the steel companies receive whatever price\nadjustment they are entitled to under the law.\nGentlemen, the eyes of the Nation are upon you as you meet\nhere in the White House today. You represent two powerful economic\ngroups who have contributed immeasurably to the greatness of our\ncountry. You have great power; and, because of that fact, you all have\ngreat responsibility. You have achieved your strength in a democracy\nwhich places its faith in the ability of its people to work out their\nown problems as reasonable men in the national interest. I urge you\nto reaffirm that faith by settling your differences now in this time\nof critical national need.\nThis room -- the President's Cabinet Room -- is yours for\nthese meetings. Somo great decisions affecting the welfare of our\ncountry have been made in this room. Your agreement on a settlement\nof this dispute would rank with any of them as a contribution to the\ncommon defense and the general welfare of our Nation.\nI am asking John Steelman to sit with you, to help you\nin trying to reach an agreement, and to keep me constantly advised\nof your progress.\nNow, gentlemen, I have never felt as strongly about anything\nas I do about this situation. We have a national defense program which\nis right on the verge of success.\nFor seven years, from April 12, 1945, until now, I have spent\nmy whole time trying to keep this country out of a third world war.\nIf we can get the economic situation and the defense situation\nin Western Europe through to a successful conclusion, and that depends\non steel, if we can get the situation in the Far East settled on a basis\nthat is fair to all concerned, I am just as sure as I sit here that\nwe'll get a world peace. And with the development of the world after\nthat world peace, there won't be a chance for our industry to catch up\nwith the demand."
}