May 8, 1954

Mason charges FHA counsel Bovard inefficient and threatens dismissal; says he may stay on leave until discharged or restored to duty; offers him pub hearing within 21 days conditionally; Byrd repts he sent Justice Dept information that might locate responsibility for 'windfall' profits; repts talk with Dept aides W Olney and H B Holland on possible prosecution of bldrs or Govt officials; repts he sent Internal Revenue Service data found in his probe; plans probe of all Govt housing activities

Laniel repts fall of Dienbienphu; says he has no information on fate of de Castries and survivors; repts Isabelle still defended by Col Lalande; de Castries final rept tells of lack of ammunition, hand-to-hand fighting and closeness of rebels; says 'we will not surrender'; reptdly orders all able-bodied men to try to reach Isabelle; battle revd; French mil spokesman holds fortress fulfilled assigned mission; contact with Isabelle lost; maps; Laniel, de Castries illus

State to get $113 million in Fed aid, fiscal '56 and '57, under new Fed hwy bill; classes of rds and amts listed

French Cabinet instructs Bidault to seek truce but not at cost of capitulation; gets rept on conf; Jacquet reptdly returns to Paris

US urges USSR join in working for solution of most pressing problems at Geneva conf