The United States and the Soviet Union have reportedly agreed that the Arab‐Israeli peace negotiations should begin next month without the participation of Palestinian representatives. According to a well‐informed diplomat in Washington, only Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan have been invited to the conference by the two big powers, which have decided to leave the controversial question of Palestinian participation to the conference itself, which will also be attended by the two organizing nations as well as by UN Secretary General Waldheim.
The leaders of the Arab world finished their conference in Algiers by reaching an agreement on a common oil policy. Most Arab countries agreed to back Egypt and Syria fully. Arab leaders voted to recognize Yasser Arafat’s P.L.O. as the sole representative of the Palestinian people. Many Palestinians are ready to meet with Israel along with other Arab representatives to discuss peace.
Israel and Egypt postponed a meeting which was scheduled to discuss mutual troop pullbacks; reasons for the delay differ between the two countries.
The Soviet press published its first direct criticism of France for deriding Soviet-American collaboration over the Middle East and for advocating tighter European coordination on politics and defense. Accusing some French circles of undermining the special Soviet‐French relationship sponsored by de Gaulle, an article in a weekly Soviet paper ostensibly took issue with elements of the French press, but the criticism was actually aimed at recent policy pronouncements by French leaders.
Three Arab hijackers surrendered in Dubai after flying a hijacked Dutch jet around the Mideast.
The United States continues to send thousands of barrels of oil to Cambodia and South Vietnam daily. Some of the oil is being used to keep the South Vietnamese air force flying.
The first deliberate ramming of one jet plane into another jet in combat took place as Soviet Air Force Captain Gennadii N. Eliseev failed to bring down an Iranian Imperial Air Force surveillance aircraft with air-to-air missiles or gunfire, and rammed his MiG-21 into the F-4 Phantom II. The crew of the F-4, an Iranian Major and a U.S. Air Force Colonel, ejected safely in Soviet airspace and were captured, while Eliseev died when his airplane exploded.
At least 40 persons were killed and more than 70 injured when fire swept through a department store packed with holiday shoppers in Kumamoto, Japan, on the southern island of Kyushu, police reported. Helicopters hovered over the roof of the seven-story building, rescuing survivors. Firemen’s ladders and ropes were used to save persons trapped on lower floors. The fire started on the third floor of the Taiyo department store. A female spotted fire in bedding stored on a staircase, police said. Temperatures were said to have ranged as high as 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
South Korea charged that North Korean gunboats were violating its territorial waters. A Defense Ministry spokesman claimed that two North Korean high-speed gunboats intruded two miles into the South Korean territorial sea off the west coast.
A millionaire Lebanese businessman involved in Mideast arms deals has vanished in Paris and police are investigating the possibility that he has been kidnaped or is on the run from a private vendetta. Antoine Kamou, 42, self-styled “economic and technical adviser on arms supplies,” was reported to be involved principally in selling arms to Arab countries. But friends said he also sold to Israel. They have publicly speculated that Kamou may have been kidnaped by Israeli secret agents for an alleged role in the sale of French Mirage jets to Libya.
A new wave of violence involving the Irish Republican Army broke out in Northern Ireland. IRA members hijacked cars, buses and trucks and turned the vehicles into barricades across 90 roads, nearly sealing off the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for most of the day.
London’s 1,900 ambulance drivers ended their first strike after 24 hours. But their leaders warned that the strike was one of a series that would be called in support of their pay demand-for a raise of $25 a week-which the government says would violate anti-inflation restrictions. More than 1,250 emergency calls were answered during the period by 150 supervisory personnel.
Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave’s national coalition won a special election in Monaghan, Ireland, strengthening its majority to three in the 144-seat Dail, or parliament. Brendan Toal was elected with 15,080 votes against 14,791 for Dr. Rory O’Hanlon, the opposition Fianna Fail candidate. The seat was formerly held by Erskine Childers, Fianna Fail deputy leader, until he was elected to the republic’s figurehead presidency last spring.
General Motors of Canada announced that 2,500 of 9,000 hourly rated workers at two plants in St. Catharines, Ontario, will be laid off for a week starting December 17, due to curtailment of production of medium-sized and luxury cars. The layoffs precede GM’s scheduled two-week Christmas holiday closing as specified in its contract with United Auto Workers. Those laid off will receive 95% of take-home pay. The plants manufacture engines, axles and other car parts.
Eleven persons were arrested in Monterrey and 4,400 pounds of marijuana were seized, signaling the breakup of part of a large narcotics ring operating along the Mexico-U.S. border, Mexican police said. Among those arrested was a suspect in the 1971 kidnapping of wealthy banker and industrialist Carlos Felton, who was released after payment of a $400,000 ransom.
The Bahamian government announced plans to nationalize the country’s three casinos by January, 1976. The casinos are owned wholly or partly by Resorts International and Benguet of America, both U. S. companies, through subsidiaries. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur D. Hanna said the government had rejected proposals on becoming a partner in the ownership and management, and instead will wholly own and control the casinos.
A helicopter spotted the wreckage of a Venezuelan air force bomber which had been missing since Tuesday night with five persons aboard. The B-25 Mitchell bomber was seen in the muddy waters of a lake near Venezuela’s Caribbean shore, an air force spokesman said. There apparently were no survivors.
The “Battle of Versailles”, a fashion show to raise funds for the restoration of the Palace of Versailles, was held and featured the five leading fashion designers of France— Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Emanuel Ungaro, Marc Bohan, and Hubert de Givenchy — against five of the most prominent in the United States— Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Halston, and Oscar de la Renta. Attracting 700 prominent guests, the show was a landmark presentation that “gave American fashion legitimacy” and confirmed “the newly attained dominance of American sportswear.”
Judge John Sirica was informed that more of the subpoenaed White House tapes may contain gaps. White House attorney Fred Buzhardt admitted that other tapes have stretches without conversation on them. Prosecutor Richard Ben-Veniste stated that voice-activated White House tapes should have no gaps without sound. Buzhardt attempted to explain the possible gaps on other tapes.
Earlier, President Nixon’s personal secretary Rose Mary Woods testified about one tape with an 18-minute gap and restated her explanation that she accidentally erased that conversation. Prosecutor Jill Volner and Miss Woods exchanged cutting remarks over Woods’ explanation.
White House officials insisted that key information on the tapes which is needed for the Watergate investigation is still intact despite gaps. President Nixon will accelerate “Operation Candor”, releasing information later this week which he claims will prove that several allegations against him are wrong, including allegations of financial wrongdoing.
Senate Watergate committee vice-chairman Howard Baker stated that a sensitive national security matter may be the missing link in the Watergate scandal. President Nixon and Watergate committee chairman Sam Ervin agreed that the matter is too sensitive to be probed. CIA wiretapping of the Kremlin was suggested as a possible secret, sensitive matter.
The Senate passed a bill removing the constitutional barrier to the nomination of Senator William Saxbe as Attorney General.
Rumors of gasoline rationing are sweeping the country after Transportation Secretary Brinegar conceded that rationing is possible. Interior Secretary Rogers Morton reported that many oil executives are being recruited for government service to deal with the oil crisis. Morton also signaled that the go-ahead will be given to tap shale oil reserves in Western states. Conservationists were disappointed by the government’s decision.
Despite its preference for a gasoline tax to reduce demand, the Administration is moving toward rationing as a way of coping with the fuel shortage, according to two officials in two Federal agencies. No formal decision has been made yet. But, faced with Congressional opposition to increasing the gasoline tax and the need to reduce nonbusiness fuel consumption by 30 percent, the Administration is reportedly working on a tentative plan that would involve transferrable coupons allowing a basic ration of 10 to 15 gallons a week for each car.
The compliance of major expressways with President Nixon’s request for a ban on Sunday gasoline sales is up in the air. Northeastern expressways are deciding individually whether to comply.
The New Jersey turnpike top speed limit is now 55 m.p.h., but the President’s proposed 5 m.p.h. speed limit difference between cars and trucks is likely to cause a rise in the number and severity of accidents. The turnpike will limit sales of gasoline to five gallons per customer on Sundays.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a report confirming that lead from motor vehicle exhaust posed a direct threat to the health of children. The study would lead to regulations phasing out the amount of lead in fuel, in favor of unleaded gasoline, as well the mass introduction of the catalytic converter in vehicles starting in the 1975 model year.
The National Transportation Safety Council stated that reduced gasoline sales and reduced speeds on highways could save 14,000 lives per year. Senator Thomas Eagleton said that insurance companies should take the council’s statement into consideration and reduce auto insurance premiums.
The Civil Aeronautics Board warned Christmas travelers to expect last‐minute flight cancellations because of the jet fuel shortage. Raising the spectre of passengers stranded on the eve of holiday trips, the C.A.B. urged regular telephone checks with airlines to see if flights have, been canceled or rescheduled.
Senate Democratic leader Mike Mansfield called for expanded rail passenger service to help ease transportation problems; Amtrak business is booming. Winter months are usually slow for Amtrak, but this winter expansion is going to be necessary and Amtrak has placed an order for new engines. However, the same fuel crunch which is boosting Amtrak is also causing a slowdown in the shipment of the basic materials needed for production, so new Amtrak locomotives likely won’t be ready when needed.
Callers have flooded the lines seeking reservations for Amtrak’s Auto Train, which runs from Sanford, Florida to northern Virginia, since the gasoline shortage began. Now ticket requests have doubled since the President’s recent energy speech.
Representative William Minshall introduced a bill allowing a full tax write-off for mass transit fares to and from work.
Massive unemployment is feared as a result of the energy crisis; the aircraft industry is already being hard-hit. One-fourth of Cessna aircraft employees in Wichita will be furloughed by Friday. The government has proposed that fuel allocations to the general aviation industry be cut by 40%. Kansas Governor Robert Docking warned that such a cut will lead to mass unemployment.
Following the example of United Airlines, American Airlines will lay off more than 200 pilots as part of its flight reduction program.
Senator Frank Moss stated that no actual oil shortage existed last winter, only misallocation and misdirection of supplies.
A graduation ceremony in Miami, Florida, was not much of a commencement because of the fuel shortage. Stewardesses and stewards graduated from an Eastern Airlines training program, but because of the energy crisis the graduates have already been furloughed without pay. The training school is to be closed indefinitely. The new graduates reacted to the situation with anger, frustration and crushed hopes.
Actress Elizabeth Taylor was reported in good condition after surgery to remove an ovarian cyst.
California representative Yvonne Burke became the first member of Congress to give birth while in office, and the first to be granted maternity leave.
Oriole Al Bumbry beats out 5 other vote-getters to win American League Rookie of the Year honors. The outfielder played just 110 games, but tied for the league lead in triples (11) and batted .337.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 839.78 (+22.05, +2.70%).
Born:
Brian Bonin, NHL centre (Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild), in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Died:
Marthe Bibesco, 87, Romanian-French writer of the Belle Époque
History Diaries 