Questions about casualty reports and other matters related to the rescue of the freighter Mayaguez persisted despite new explanations from the White House and the Pentagon. The Pentagon again revised its count of casualties, except for the number of dead and missing, in the marine assault to rescue the ship and its crew. The White House press secretary said President Ford had been “puzzled” and “frustrated” by his inability to obtain quick and accurate information about casualties. The spokesman insisted there was not “any intention to hide bad news.”
The gravest crisis in relations between Thailand and the United States since World War II appeared to have been virtually resolved as a result of a highly conciliatory American note to the Thai government regarding the use of a Thai base for the marine operation in the Mayaguez rescue. Nevertheless, several hundred demonstrators harassed members of the United States Embassy in Bangkok.
Secretary or State Kissinger met today with the Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei A. Gromyko, in the hope that they could begin to make political decisions to surmount the technical difficulties that have plagued the nuclear arms talks. After five hours both Mr. Kissinger and Mr. Gromyko said that they had made some progress in the talks, which continue tomorrow. Mr. Kissinger believes that the chances of movement in these talks were enhanced several weeks ago when Moscow hinted at an approach on how to distinguish between different kinds of missiles that could be combined with the American approach to missile verification. Mr. Kissinger and his associates do not exude optimism about a breakthrough in Vienna. Their stated aim is to begin the process of sending Soviet and American delegations back to Geneva in June with new instructions.
The Kremlin’s efforts to promote Soviet prestige through a succession of forums abroad appear to have been stalled despite some advantages offered by recent American setbacks. The situation, in which Moscow is being frustrated by a timetable of its own optimistic making, figures in Soviet concern at a time when Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko is believed to be raising some of the more pressing problems with Secretary of State Kissinger at their two‐day meeting in Vienna. The Soviet Union has apparently learned that it cannot surmount some of these deadlocks alone. Perhaps most timely is the breakthrough needed for an accord limiting strategic arms that will justify a visit by the Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev, to the United States this fall. Beyond this are two other events sought by Moscow — the convening of the Middle East peace conference by Geneva and the wind‐up of the European security conference at Geneva.
Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold a summit meeting in Brussels later this month to try to resolve their dispute over Cyprus and other issues, Turkey’s foreign minister said. The agreement came after three days of talks in Rome between the foreign ministers of both countries. The main result of the talks was not in progress on individual points of difference but that both countries appear satisfied progress could be made.
The U.S. Senate voted by the narrow margin of 41 to 40 today in favor of permitting the resumption of military assistance and private arms sales to Turkey. The action, which has been vigorously promoted by the Ford Administration, was apparently timed to strengthen the diplomatic hand of Secretary of State Kissinger, who is due to meet with Turkish officials in Ankara later this week on the Cyprus issue. However, there is continued strong opposition in the House to resumption of aid to Turkey, cut off in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus lasts summer.
Communist printers took control of Lisbon’s Socialist newspaper Republica and told Raul Rego, the 62-year-old editor who served three jail terms under the old rightist regime, that his ideology was all wrong. Thousands of Socialists who gathered outside the paper were barred from entering by armed paratroopers. Meanwhile, the nation’s military leaders met in a special assembly under pressure from hard-liners to do away with strife between the country’s political parties and bypass civilian politicians altogether.
Italians face a week of disruption and chaos, with strikes in effect or planned by airport workers, bus drivers, civil servants, customs officers, doctors and teachers. Airport workers had already begun their strikethe latest in a series of almost daily stoppages in the past few weeks that have made air travel in Italy a nightmare. But there is one bright spot: a treasury-workers strike is holding up tax collections.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon said a U.S. arms sale to Jordan, coupled with weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, “is a threat to the balance of power in our area.” He also disclosed officially that the United States had canceled an arms-buying visit to Washington by Defense Minister Shimon Peres.
Syria charged that Iraq has sentenced six persons to death and jailed 82 more for opposing Iraq’s recent reconciliation with Iran. The official Syrian news agency claimed the report proved a Syrian contention that Iraq got its deal with Iran in return for cutting back Communist influence in Iraq.
Iraq extended for a third and, officials say, last time an amnesty that was granted in mid-March to former Kurdish rebels. The official Iraq news agency reported the amnesty was due to expire today but now has been extended until the end of June. The agency stressed that this would be the last extension.
In India’s Maharashtra state, a truck, filled with people on their way to a wedding, was struck by a passenger train while crossing the tracks, killing 66 people and injuring another 18.
North Vietnam’s fourth-ranking Politburo member, who for the last eight years secretly coordinated activities against Saigon, was reported to have emerged as the apparent political leader in South Vietnam following the Communist takeover. He is Pham Hung, and the prominence given his appearance at celebrations marking the Communist victory was regarded by the American intelligence community as a sign that Hanoi probably plans to direct developments in South Vietnam closely.
Tens of thousands of refugees are returning to their homes in the central provinces of South Vietnam, the Saigon radio reported today. It said in a broadcast monitored in Hong Kong that the first phase of a return‐home program had been completed, with soldiers among those who had received passes for the journey. Broadcasts from Saigon indicated that refugees had high immediate priority. Some towns and villages in the central provinces were almost depopulated when great columns of refugees fled southward in advance of the Communist spring offensive, which culminated in the surrender of Saigon on April 30.
Housebreaking and robberies are mounting rapidly in Hồ Chí Minh City (Saigon), sprawling capital of three million people, and creating a law‐and‐order problem that is worrying the new Communist authorities. The increase in crime has been related to the number of jobless former soldiers of the ousted regime and to civilians who have not received salaries since the banks were closed at the end of last month.
The Laotian Government announced today a series of regulations restricting travel within the country and abroad and requiring every Laotian to register with the national police. At the same time, the Government asked all neighboring countries not to grant asylum to any Laotians — a demand aimed directly at Thailand, where most of the people who have left Laos have sought sanctuary. The regulations appeared designed to stem the flight of Laotians abroad, a drain that is embarrassing to the country and damaging to the economy.
Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia arrived in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, today and was warmly greeted by President Kim Il Sung and tens of thousands of workers, a broadcast said. The Communists’ press agency said Prince Sihanouk was welcomed as the goodwill envoy of the heroic Cambodian people, who won a great victory in their struggle against United States aggression and for national salvation.” Prince Sihanouk has lived in Peking since his overthrow in 1970 by Marshal Lon Nol, whose Government fell to Communist‐led forces on April 17. A recent report from Peking said he did not plan to return to Phnom Penh until after the Cambodian capital was “rehabilitated.”
Former Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who helped transform Japan into an economic giant during his record eight years in power, collapsed from a stroke at a Tokyo restaurant. Doctors treating the 74-year-old statesman said that he was in a coma and in critical condition. He was at the restaurant for a meeting with business leaders.
The Tokyo police today arrested a group of eight anarchists on suspicion that they were responsible for a time‐bomb blast in an office building here last month. A police spokesman said an investigation was under way into the group’s possible link with the series of bombings at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ home office and six other business establishments since August last year. One of the arrested anarchists, Nodoka Saito, 27, took a drug in an attempt at suicide during interrogation, the police said. He was taken to a hospital where he died three hours later.
French Defense Minister Yvon Bourges confirmed that France will conduct “several” underground atomic tests in the South Pacific this year. Bourges, during an interview with a French news magazine, said: “We are progressing much faster in nuclear armament than everyone believes.” President Valery Giscard d’Estaing announced last year that France would move its tests underground this year.
Marxist rebels from Zaire crossed Lake Tanganyika into Tanzania, and invaded the Gombe Stream primate research facility that had been home to primatologist Jane Goodall. Three Stanford University students, and one Dutch national, Goodall, nursing a sore eye, had turned off her nightlight minutes before the troops arrived, which she would say later kept her from being taken hostage. The four hostages would be released two months later, but the Gombe park has required armed protection ever since.
Two white opposition parties in South Africa have decided to merge, opening the way for a major political realignment. The merger between the Progressive party, which has seven members in Parliament, and the Reform party, formed by five members who broke away in February from the United party, the largest opposition grouping, was appoved by the national executives of both parties. With the differences between the governing Nationalists and the United party becoming increasingly indistinct, the new party is expected to attract those opposed to the Government’s policy of apartheid, or racial division.
Prime Minister John Vorster of South Africa has appealed to President William R. Tolbert Jr. of Liberia to arrange a meeting between South African and black African leaders, The Times of London reported today. The appeal was contained in a series of exchanges between the South African and Liberian leaders since Mr. Vorster’s secret visit to Liberia earlier this year, The Times said. The exchanges, conducted by intermediaries, also revealed that South Africa had given large supplies of food to the Front of Liberation of Mozambique and that she has sought to barter gold for oil in deals with Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, the article said.
U.S. House of Representatives backers of a $32 billion weapons procurement bill successfully turned back initial efforts to reduce the authorization measure. Four separate moves to make cuts — including $108 million in production money for the proposed B-1 strategic bomber — were easily defeated and the House put off until today further action on proposed cuts and a final vote on the measure.
The White House said that President Ford has decided to repeat his last year’s veto of pioneering legislation to curb the environmental damage of strip mining for coal, which Congress has strongly supported. An effort in Congress to override the veto is expected this week. The announcement by Ron Nessen, the President’s press secretary, and Frank G. Zarb, head of the Federal Energy Administration, preceded by a day the transmission to the Capitol of Mr. Ford’s formal veto message, which must be received before midnight tomorrow. It is expected to go up during the day tomorrow, while the President is in North Carolina. Presumably — because it is increasingly evident that Mr. Zarb’s critical view of the strip mine legislation dominates White House thinking on the subject — the President’s message will repeat the arguments against the bill that the F.E.A. chief gave newsmen orally today.
The Justice Department, long on record against decriminalizing the use of marijuana, has shifted to “no position” until Attorney General Edward H. Levi makes up his mind, a spokesman said. Levi, sworn in February 7 has not yet “focused on marijuana use,” the spokesman said. First indication of the new view came when Donald E. Miller of the Drug Enforcement Administration testified against a Senate decriminalization bill. In a last-minute change, Miller deleted the last sentence of his prepared statement — “Therefore, the Department of Justice recommends against enactment of this legislation.”
New regulations to keep the nation’s computer crime data systems more accurate and to protect individual privacy were announced by the Justice Department. To protect a person whose name may be entered on an unfounded charge, strengthened rules forbid disclosing the record for non-law enforcement purposes if the case is over a year old, and has not been disposed of. Records of minor offenses and generalized “character” reports may not be carried on the systems. The regulations cover the FBI’s data systems, those of state and local agencies which exchange data with the FBI, interstate data systems and data systems that have received federal funds.
Authoritative sources said that the Rockefeller Commission had learned of documents supporting the charge that the Central Intelligence Agency contracted with the Mafia in a 1961 plot to kill Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba. According to these sources, a former top official of the Department of Justice during the Nixon Administration has told the commission in secret testimony that department files contain Federal Bureau of Investigation memorandums that confirm that the C.I.A. was in touch with Sam Giancana, a Chicago rackets chief, and John Roselli, a soldier of fortune with organized crime connections, in a plot to assassinate Mr. Castro. The existence of the documents is the first public indication that there is written material to support a long‐standing allegation that the agency conspired with organized crime figures in such an assassination attempt.
A, bill that would commit the federal government to preserving buildings of “historical and architectural significance,” rather than automatically demolishing and rebuilding, was endorsed today by the General Service Administration, the government’s landlord. A hearing on the bill was held this morning by the Subcommittee on Buildings and Grounds of the Senate Public Works Committee, under the direction of Senator James L. Buckley, Conservative‐Republican of New York, a sponsor of the bill.
In an abrupt reversal — indeed a 180-degree turn in mid-passage — the Supreme Court unanimously conceded that the maritime collision law it has enforced since 1854 was unfair. The Justices said that financial responsibility for a collision at sea should be divided proportionately among two or more parties involved, depending on the relative degree of fault of each of them. Since 1854, the Court has maintained that two ships that collide must divide the resulting damage expense equally regardless of the degree of liability.
The trial began against International Business Machines (IBM) for violations of anti-trust law, and lasted for more than six years. On January 8, 1982, the U.S. Justice Department would voluntarily drop further proceedings.
After months of pressure from the automobile industry and the Ford Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began its final hearings today before deciding whether to require American automobile manufacturers to equip their cars with air bags. But the agency’s administrator, Dr. James B. Gregory, gave no indication that he was backing away from making air bags mandatory equipment in cars.
U.S. District Judge Don Young questioned potential jurors in Cleveland on their ability to ignore out-of-court comments in the civil trial of Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes and 43 other persons that stems from the 1970 Kent State University shootings. U.S. marshals turned away all spectators and all but 16 newsmen. The suit seeking an estimated $11 million in damages is a consolidation of 13 original actions and is brought by the nine Kent State students wounded and the parents of the four students slain in the May 4 confrontation of Ohio national guardsmen and demonstrators protesting U.S. military involvement in Cambodia.
The leadership of one of the strongest Democratic machines in the nation is on the line in today’s primary election as Philadelphia Mayor Frank L. Rizzo faces party-backed challenger Louis G. Hill. Rizzo, a former patrolman and police commissioner, was elected with party backing in 1971 on a strong law-and-order platform. But he has been at odds with party leaders the last four years and now faces the same machine that helped him land the job.
Former Senator Sam J. Ervin Jr., 78, says he would like lingering questions about Watergate and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy answered in his lifetime. The retired North Carolina Democrat, who two years ago headed the Senate’s Watergate committee, said the Rockefeller Commission should reopen the inquiry into the death of the President. And as for Watergate, he thinks only one big question remains — what was done with $100,000 by C.G. (Bebe) Rebozo, former President Richard M. Nixon’s friend. “He’s a banker, you know, and bankers like to draw interest.” Ervin said.
New York City’s financial condition worsened when three large banks and an investment concern declined to buy $280 million in bond anticipation notes offered without bidding by Controller Harrison Goldin. “They told us there was no public market at this point,” Mr. Goldin said after officials of the institutions — Morgan Guaranty Trust, First National City and Chase Manhattan and Salomon Brothers, the investment concern — had notified the Controller of their decision. Mr. Goldin said the financiers were “prepared to explore with us alternative financing means.”
Seven suspicious fires broke out in the towers of New York City’s World Trade Center, causing minor injuries to eight firemen and six civilians, the fire department reported. So many fires in such quick succession created “a definite suspicion of arson,” a spokesman said. adding that there has been no official determination yet on the cause of the blazes. Most of the fires were in rubbish and were quickly extinguished.
Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s comment was, “What am I doing that they need to have a file on me? I sure as hell think the people of the United States need to know this is going on.” Arousing the ire of the nation’s best-known atheist-the woman who brought the landmark suit that led to the Supreme Court’s ruling that banned compulsory prayers in public schools — was the knowledge that the FBI and the CIA apparently have been compiling a file on her for 10 years — all with the help of her husband. Documents sent to her by an associate of columnist Jack Anderson indicate she has been under surveillance since May 12, 1964 — a year after the Supreme Court prayer ruling.
Abbie Hoffman, the former radical Yippie and Chicago seven member who went underground a year ago to escape charges of selling cocaine, says he has a new wife, has undergone plastic surgery and is enjoying his life as a fugitive.
At least 19 persons were injured and 15 trailer homes destroyed by a tornado that struck the Minneapolis suburbs of Mounds View and Fridley, an area hit by a devastating tornado 10 years ago. The Mounds View trailer court was hardest hit and rescue workers used heavy equipment to sift through the wreckage. The storm also ripped the roof off an elementary school about the time school was being dismissed but there were no reports of injured children. Elsewhere. St. Louis reported that severe winds and huge hailstones caused widespread property damage.
Federal agents, conducting a sweeping investigation in New Orleans and other ports, are piecing together a picture of corruption in the handling, grading and weighing of grain that raises questions about the integrity of United States standards and the quality of grain shipments to foreign buyers. Seven privately employed grain inspectors licensed by the Department of Agriculture have been indicted so far.
27th Emmy Awards: “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, Robert Blake, and Jean Marsh win
Major League Baseball:
San Diego’s Randy Jones hurls a 10–inning one-hitter in beating St. Louis 1–0. John Curtis takes the tough loss, giving up a game-ending homer to John Grubb, his 4th hit of the game, with one out in the 10th. Melendez has the one hit for the Cards, a leadoff single in the 7th. Jones, who led the majors a year ago with 22 defeats, walked three and fanned three in hurling his third shutout of the season. His record is 5–2.
Bill Buckner, a pinch‐hitter, produced a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the eighth inning that scored Steve Garvey with the winning run as the Dodgers beat the Cubs, 3–2. Jim Brewer worked the final 1 ⅓ innings in relief of Doug Rau to earn his third triumph in four decisions. The game was the first of the season between the two division leaders and the Dodgers recorded their eighth consecutive victory over the Cubs. Chicago won only two of 12 meetings against Los Angeles last season.
The Giants downed the Pirates, 6–4. Mike Caldwell, who had a 7–1 won‐lost record at this time a year ago, won his first game of 1975. The left‐handed pitcher also hit a three‐run double to pace the Giant attack. The Giants shook up Jerry Reuss in building a 5–0 lead in three innings. Chris Speier’s walk, Caldwell’s two‐out single and Von Joshua’s run‐scoring single started the scoring in the second. The Giants scored four more runs in the third on a walk singles by Willie Montanez and Speier, a throwing error at shortstop and Caldwell’s double.
Four Philadelphia errors contributed to three unearned runs as the Astros snapped the Phillies’ seven‐game winiting streak, beating the Phils, 4–2. It was Philadelphia’s first loss since Dick Allen returned to the club. Bob Watson hit a homer in the sixth inning. his eighth of the season tying him with Philadelphia’s Greg Luzinski for the league lead.
The Red Sox and the Oakland A’s sprayed 20 hits in and out of Fenway Park last night, but it was fleet‐footed Juan Beniquez who scored the deciding run in Boston’s 10–5 triumph.The score was tied, 5–5, after Gene Tenace’s three‐run homer in the seventh inning. But in the bottom of the inning, Beniquez drew a base on balls, then scored all the way from first base on a hit-and‐run single to right‐field by Rick Burleson. The Sox didn’t stop there. Carl Yastrzemski walked, and Jim Rice doubled to left field, scoring two more runs. Dwight Evans followed with another double to score Rice and give Boston a 9–5 lead. Behind Boston’s nine‐hit attack, Luis Tiant worked his way to his fourth victory in mine decisions despite yielding 11 hits. The A’s output featured a second‐inning homer by Tenace, as well as his three‐run blow.
Jerry Remy a rookie, hit a three‐run homer, his first in the major leagues, to cap a five‐run fourth inning for California, as the Angels routed the Indians, 12–5. The Angels, who hit only two home runs in 54 innings in Cleveland last season, and only nine this season before the game, also got homers from Lee Stanton and Tommy Harper.
Two‐run homers by Leon Roberts and Willie Horton, the league leader with nine, plus a pair by Gary Sutherland powered the Tigers to a 6–3 victory over the Twins. Joe Coleman got the triumph, his third in eight decisions, hut needed relief from John Hiller. Hiller enfered the game with two runners in the eighth, and retired six hatters in succession to record his sixth save. Roberts hit his homer in the first, Horton in the third, Sutherland got his in the seventh and ninth.
The White Sox edged the Orioles, 2–1. Jorge Orta knocked in both Chicago runs with a bases‐loaded single in the third inning and Stan Bahnsen, with strong relief from Rich Gossage, won his first game after four defeats. Orta’s decisive hit came after singles by Tony Muser and Bucky Dent and a walk to Pat Kelly. Gossage took over in the seventh and shut off a Baltimore threat on an inning‐ending double play to post his sixth save. The Orioles’ only run came in the second on Don Baylor’s fifth homer of the season.
Rudy May became the first pitcher besides Catfish Hunter to win a game for the Yankees this month when he checked the Kansas City Royals, 5–1, last night in Shea Stadium. May struck out eight and walked four. He was relieved by Dick Tidrow after giving up the lone Royals’ run in the sixth, after having thrown 112 pitches. Chris Chambliss hit two home runs for New York.
Oakland Athletics 5, Boston Red Sox 10
Baltimore Orioles 1, Chicago White Sox 2
California Angels 12, Cleveland Indians 5
Philadelphia Phillies 2, Houston Astros 4
Chicago Cubs 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 3
Detroit Tigers 6, Minnesota Twins 3
Kansas City Royals 1, New York Yankees 5
St. Louis Cardinals 0, San Diego Padres 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 4, San Francisco Giants 6
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 837.69 (+0.08, +0.01%)
Born:
London Fletcher, NFL linebacker (NFL Champions, Super Bowl 34-Rams, 1999; Pro Bowl, 2009-2012; St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins), in Cleveland, Ohio.
Josh Paul, MLB catcher (Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Anaheim-Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Devil Rays), in Evanston, Illinois.
History Diaries 