Business & Finance: Copper, Cates & Commotion

U. S. copper producers chuckled gleefully three weeks ago. Cause of their merriment was the successful manner in which they had called a bluff. Bluffers had been the representatives of Belgian Congo's Katanga Copper Co. (Union MiniƩre du Haut Katanga) who had refused to agree on production curtailment, had booked passage for home only to cancel it on the eve of sailing, return to the conference-table (TIME, Nov. 23). There was no glee when, a few days later, the Katangans suddenly rebooked passage, actually embarked. Copper curtailment, only solution to the industry's plight, seemed impossible.

Last week the bluffing Katangans...

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