He was referring to a recent easing of tax rules for art donors.

Today, thanks to the company's tactics and a recent easing of Government policy to revive consumer demand, G.M.'s Brazilian business is starting to return to normal.

Their relationship may also have been strengthened by the recent easing of tension between Israel, a traditional friend of Turkey, and the Palestinians, whom Greece has long supported.

And given the recent easing of interest rates in Germany, and the economic woes there, they may fall even more.

Apart from strong results from telephone giant AT&T, Coca-Cola and American Airlines, Wall Street continued to benefit from the central bank's recent monetary easing.

Despite the Federal Reserve's recent easing of interest rates, intense global competition for capital will give rates an upward bias.

"Now we are seeing the full effect of the Federal Reserve's recent easing of interest rates showing up in money fund yields," said Walter Frank, economist for the organization.

They cite South Africa's recent easing of some racial strictures and the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.

Another concern facing the women's movement is that the recent easing of abortion restrictions may have removed one of the movement's biggest rallying points.

He cited the recent agreement between China and the United States curbing prison labor exports and the recent easing of restrictions by Beijing on certain dissidents.