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m FILED BY 407-B THE WHITE HOUSE MR. HOPKINS WASHINGTON JUN 11 1952 June 9, 1952 Dear Senator Maybank: I am informed that the Senate may take some action today with respect to the current dispute in the steel indus- x342 try. If the Senate should do this, the results might be very harmful. The parties to the dispute are now negotiating for a settlement of the dispute. No one can be sure of the outcome X852 of these negotiations. However, the parties on both sides ap- x1015 pear to be earnestly seeking a settlement, and there is at least a reasonable hope that they will be successful -- unless something is done on the outside to upset the present bargain- ing situation. Everyone must agree that a settlement by the parties is by far the best thing that could happen in the national in- terest. When we may be on the verge of achieving that, any action which prevented it would be tragic. In the present circumstances, any action by the Senate - even though it would x419 not become applicable immediately 'or even though it might be only an expression of the Senate's views -- could so alter the situation or the attitudes of the parties in this case as to cause a breakdown in their negotiations. I earnestly ask the Senate not to do this. x419-B Very sincerely yours, (Hed) HARRY 6. TRUMAN Honorable Burnet R. Maybank, xpp71069 Chairman, xsen. Committee on Banking and Currency, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. x272 Stee Companies x407 Faft Hartley