Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan will meet with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Washington tomorrow; they will discuss the Mideast situation. In Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Golda Meir received strong support from the ruling labor party’s central committee. Israeli military sources reported that Mideast cease-fire violations have been numerous. Preparations for battle continue on both the Israeli and Egyptian sides.
Israeli and Egyptian fighter planes clashed over the Gulf of Suez, and both sides claimed victory. Israeli pilots said they had destroyed an Egyptian MIG‐21, but a Government spokesman in Cairo said that all Egyptian planes had returned safely after shooting down an Israeli Phantom.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger held a news conference today; his anxiety about Mideast and the energy crisis was obvious. Regarding the Mideast, Kissinger believes the cease-fire will remain intact. Questioned about President Nixon, Watergate and foreign policy, Kissinger conceded that the U.S.’ ability to deal firmly and wisely in foreign policy has been jeopardized. Kissinger assured Congress that the War Powers Act contains no loopholes for the President to involve the American military in Indochina again without congressional approval.
The fighting in South Vietnam has reached its fiercest levels since the signing of the cease‐fire agreement in January. While the South Vietnamese Air Force has been bombing at a scorching pace, the North Vietnamese and their Vietcong allies have taken the initiative in most of the increased combat, but it is not yet clear whether they have begun their much‐predicted dry‐season offensive. And while their long‐range strategy remains uncertain, most foreign military analysts in Saigon predict even heavier fighting in 1974.
The U.N. General Assembly condemned “with the utmost vigor” all nuclear weapons tests and urged the nuclear powers to halt testing either through a permanent agreement or a moratorium. Eighty-nine members voted for the resolution, called up from the main political committee. China, France, Gabon, Portugal and Albania voted against it and the United States, the Soviet Union and Britain were among 33 states that abstained.
Soviet reconnaissance planes are flying almost daily patrols over the South Atlantic from a base in the West African nation of Guinea, Pentagon sources said. The sources said the planes apparently are monitoring shipping traffic in the area, a vital sea lane to the Indian Ocean and the oil-rich Persian Gulf.
Leaders of Denmark’s 10 political parties decided to convene parliament Tuesday for a vote of confidence in the interim government of Anker Joergensen. The prime minister resigned Wednesday after his party suffered heavy losses in Tuesday’s elections, but he agreed to head a caretaker government until a new ruling coalition is formed.
Cyprus released seven Palestinian guerrillas who had served about four months of seven-year prison terms. The guerrillas were put on a plane and sent to Cairo. The seven were among a group that bombed the Israeli ambassador’s residence and tried to hijack an Israeli airliner last April. The government of Cyprus gave no reason for releasing the men.
Three Catholic priests identified with church social work among sugar plantation workers in Negros Oriental province, more than 300 miles south of Manila, have been arrested by the martial law government of the Philippines, informed church sources said. Negros Oriental has long been the scene of contention between sugar workers and plantation owners. Priests in the area side with the workers.
At least 14 persons were killed when more than 100 tons of rock and debris crashed down on a slum section in the southwest part of Mexico City, the Red Cross reported. Rescue -workers said 10 bodies had been recovered and it was feared that the death toll would rise after four more bodies were spotted. A Red Cross official said 25 persons were injured in the landslide, most of them seriously. “It sounded like an advancing train when all the rocks and soil came down on my house,” said 40-year-old Samuel Rodriguez. He said three of his children were killed.
Victor E. Samuelson, an executive for the energy producing Exxon Corporation, was kidnapped in Argentina by the terrorist Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP, the Revolutionary Army of the People). A group of seven ERP guerrillas took him from the Esso Argentina refinery at Campana, near Buenos Aires, where Samuelson was the refinery manager. Samuelson would be held hostage for 144 days, until April 29, 1974, before being released on Exxon’s payment of a then-record kidnap ransom of $14,200,000, equivalent to almost $95 million in 2023.
Argentine President Juan D. Perón said in Buenos Aires that he had canceled plans for a visit to the United Nations and possible talks with President Nixon later this month. Perón, 78, has been ordered by his doctors to cut down working hours since suffering a relapse of a bronchial complaint on November 21.
President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia was declared reelected but three of his cabinet ministers suffered defeats in a general election. Under the new one-party constitution Kaunda needed 50% of the vote. As the only candidate for president, he polled more than 80%. Kaunda, 49, has been president of the former British possession of Northern Rhodesia since it became an independent republic in 1964.
An urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council was called for Monday to deal with the future of Namibia, or South-West Africa. The meeting, asked by Guinea, Kenya and Sudan, is to debate whether to end a diplomatic dialogue between U.N. Secretary General Kurt Waldheim and the government of South Africa on the question of the disputed territory. The territory has been seeking independence. South Africa has continued to rule it, although the United Nations declared in 1966 that South Africa’s presence, based on a mandate, was illegal.
President Nixon named Walter Stoessel, Jr. as ambassador to the Soviet Union, succeeding Jacob Beam.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted, 387 to 35, to confirm U.S. Representative Gerald Ford of Michigan as the 40th Vice President of the United States, after the U.S. Senate had approved the nomination, 92 to 3, on November 27. Ford was sworn in later in the day. Ford became the first vice president to be confirmed under the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Afterward, in speech to the joint session of Congress, the new vice president invoked the names of two related automobile lines by joking, “I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln.”
Gerald Ford took the oath of office as the new Vice President of the United States. Pledging “equal justice for all Americans.” Gerald R. Ford took office as the 40th Vice President of the United States, He was sworn in at a brief ceremony in the House of Representatives just an hour after the House had completed Congressional confirmation of his nomination to replace Spiro T. Agnew. Ford’s day also included talks with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, House Speaker Carl Albert, relatives and friends. The House of Representatives voted 387 to 35 in favor of confirmation, and Ford was sworn in an hour later. Ford stated that he will uphold the Constitution and be as good a Vice President as possible for America. Those seeking the impeachment or resignation of President Nixon now see an opening towards that goal.
The Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act 1973, title “An Act to make temporary provision for controlling the production, supply, acquisition and use of certain substances and of electricity; and for purposes connected with those matters,” took effect in the United Kingdom after being given royal assent.
Effects of the fuel shortage on prices are becoming more evident. The overall wholesale price index leaped 1.6% for November due to fuel price increases. Administration economic adviser Herbert Stein said that such an increase was unavoidable and possibly even desirable. Democrat Senator William Proxmire declared that the latest figures show the Nixon administration’s anti-inflation drive has collapsed.
Energy czar William Simon insisted that gasoline rationing won’t be put into use until March, if it is used at all. Simon appeared before a Senate hearing today to discuss rationing. Senator Henry Jackson pressed Simon for a specific date when gasoline rationing might begin. Simon replied that the type of rationing must be decided before any timetable can be set up. He stated that March 1 would be the earliest possible date that rationing could be implemented.
Truckers blockaded major highways again to protest high fuel costs and lower speed limits. Ohio Governor John Gilligan called in the state police to clear I-70 and the Ohio turnpike. Minor scuffles occurred; a dozen drivers were arrested. Some truckers who were not participating in the protest were caught in the blockade anyway. Late in the afternoon, the truckers pulled out.
The Amish are mainly unhurt by the energy crisis. They drive carriages and live in houses without electricity. Rising food costs do affect the Amish somewhat. Progress is shunned in Amish communities.
New York City subways, buses and commuter trains cut their fares in half on Sunday to help increase usage and ease gasoline shortage problems.
President Nixon’s chief of staff Alexander Haig appeared today before Judge John Sirica to discuss the White House tape with the 18-minute gap. Haig outlined two theories which were discussed amongst Haig, the President and White House lawyers to explain the gap. Haig explained the “devil theory” and the theory that President Nixon’s personal secretary Rose Mary Woods erased the tape innocently. Haig said he believes the gap is totally innocent. Sirica will bring the public hearings regarding the 18-minute gap to an end, but now a new tape controversy is brewing. Special Watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski will subpoena the other White House tapes soon unless the President turns over the requested tapes.
Federal prosecutors disclosed that the White House has agreed to provide a tape recording of a Feb. 28th conversation between the President and John W. Dean 3d for the trial of two former Cabinet officers, John N. Mitchell and Maurice H. Stans. The tape had been demanded by the judge, who said he would not allow Mr. Dean to testify for the prosecution unless it was made available to the court.
The FBI released details of J. Edgar Hoover’s three-year attack on the “new left” movement.
Fugitive financier Robert Vesco has been granted permission to live in Argentina. Vesco was indicted along with former Attorney General John Mitchell and former Treasury Secretary Maurice Stans on campaign finance-related charges involving the Nixon ’72 re-election effort.
Senator William Proxmire filed a lawsuit charging Robert Bork with illegally holding office as acting Attorney General.
The Senate passed and sent to the White House the $33 billion appropriations bill which provides funds for Department of Health, Education and Welfare programs.
A federal judge freed three members of the “Chicago 7” and their attorney William Kunstler from having to serve sentences after being convicted on contempt of court charges.
President Nixon signed legislation to rectify the “Brownsville Affair” of 1906. One surviving member of the incident, Dorsey Willis, talked to reporters in Minneapolis. Willis, now 87 years old, was honored in a ceremony earlier this year and presented with honorable discharge papers from the Army. Today the President signed a bill providing $25,000 compensation for Willis. Willis stated that he’s not bitter over the matter although he knows he’s been treated shamefully.
Ralph Nader’s research group issued a warning about certain Christmas candles containing lead wicks.
Pioneer 10’s photographs of Jupiter are being studied intensely. Pioneer should continue to broadcast for at least five more years as it soars away from Jupiter and into space.
The Astros trade outfielder Jim Wynn to the Dodgers for pitcher Claude Osteen and Dave Culpepper.
The National League votes to approve the move of the San Diego Padres to Washington, D.C. (the move does not happen).
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