October 8, 1969

Soviet sources see Chinese accord to hold talks as significant move towards easing tensions; voice skepticism on speedy or easy agreement in boundary negotiations; policy shift seen reflected by Chinese and Russian guests drinking and chatting amiably at cocktail party given by French press attache in Moscow; US analysts back view that Chinese statement on negotiations represents major conciliatory step; other speculation

Harvard U Faculty of Arts and Sciences passes resolution, 255 to 81, calling for 'prompt, rapid and complete withdrawal of US forces' and 'united and sustained natl effort to bring our troops home'; 150 abstain; action said to place major faculty of country's oldest coll on record as opposing Govt policy for 1st time in memory; MIT trustees decide to support moratorium; Harvard faculty also passes resolution, 391 to 16, recognizing moratorium and, while not committing any individual members, authorizing members to suspend classes; controversy surrounding troops withdrawal resolution discussed; comments of Prof J T Edsall noted; 150 Harvard profs sign statement in Harvard newspaper arguing that formal vote on resolution would damage univ's freedom; signers include Profs S M Lipset, D Riesman, H S Hughes, E O Reischauer and G Kistiakowsky; momentum for moratorium continues to build at other schools in Boston area; Tufts, Northeastern, Wellesley, Simmons and Bentley will be closed for day; classes will be optional at Brandeis, Boston U and Boston Coll

NY Times survey of all 50 state capitals finds 30 legislatures appear either certain or likely to approve direct election amendment; failure to win ratification by 38 states had seemed most serious obstacle to replacing coll with direct election; survey finds 6 states uncertain, 6 leaning toward opposition and 8 solidly opposed; results reflect current judgment of 200 legis leaders and most Govs; Cong sponsors of direct plan map state-by-state campaign for ratification with help of such orgns as Amer Bar Assn, US C of C, AFL-CIO; opposition to direct plan seen strongest in South, Midwest and Mt States; of 50 Govs, 19 favor direct plan, 8 oppose it and rest are undecided or not prepared to take pub stand; survey casts doubt on likelihood of ratification in time for '72 election; table summarizes survey results state by state

China announces it has reached accord with USSR to hold negotiations on border dispute, statement distributed by Hsinhua; says negotiations will be held in Peking at deputy foreign mins' level at a date still to be decided; says China has always stood for peaceful settlement, blames USSR for lack of peaceful solution; reiterates Chinese position that it did not demand return of territories seized by Czarist Russia during 19th century under what it claims were unequal treaties; charges USSR has persisted in its expansionist stand and is responsible for border tensions

commuters on train from Babylon dispute Rockefeller claim; note some improvements but are unenthusiastic about service