December 16, 1969

Reform proposals and surcharge; Mills repts 15% rise in Soc Security benefits, newly approved by HR, will become part of HR's tax reform bill; Cong conferees begin work on bill

US State and Defense Depts at loggerheads over whether Pres Nixon's Nov 25 order on chem and germ weapons included ban on disease-producing toxins; toxins are dead but poisonous by-products or end products of bacteria, and since they are not living, the Army and many experts consider them chem, not germ weapons; Army has resumed their production at Pine Bluff (Ark) Arsenal on this assumption, noting Nixon s order did not restrict production of chem weapons and agents; some of diseases which can be induced by toxins listed; State Dept officials and others warn that if Army is allowed to continue toxin production, US will lose both pol and propaganda advantage it has reaped from Nixon's order; hold it would be difficult, if not impossible, to convince other nations that US would be producing biological agents only as means to produce toxins; informed sources rept dispute has reached point where Dr Kissinger, Nixon's adviser on natl security, has ordered Army to halt toxin production until Natl Security Council can clarify Nixon's order

Traffic Dept bans parking at all metered spaces in mid-Manhattan for next 3 wks in attempt to keep traffic flowing during holiday period; ban affects 800 meters, 30th-60th Sts, 1st-9th Avs; dept starts putting canvas bags marked 'No Parking' over meters; Karagheuzoff holds move aims to let trucks park at curbs while making deliveries, thus obviating double-parking; Police Dept assigns special traffic force, including over 500 recruits, to keep holiday traffic moving smoothly in area

US Sen, after secret debate on Amer mil involvement in Laos, approves, 78-11, Sen Church amendment to defense appropriations bill to bar commitment of Amer ground combat troops in Laos or Thailand; retention of amendment by Cong conferees doubtful; prior debate revd

Svoboda appts Dubcek Amb to Turkey, relieving present Amb P Kanda, CTK rept; Czechs reptdly view Dubcek's re-emergence in official capacity as amb to nation in NATO as defeat for ultraconservatives; attribute delay in apptmt to need to persuade Dubcek to accept post and USSR to authorize apptmt; Turkey replies speedily and positively to apptmt

mood of wartime Hanoi said to be determined but surprisingly natural and relaxed; conditions in city discussed; illus

Nixon announces additional US troops cut of 50,000 by April 15, '70, TV s; new reduction redeems Nixon's expressed hope of announcing reductions of at least 100,000 men by end of '69; Nixon says he takes step despite disturbing increase in enemy infiltration; says latest information, particularly rept by Brit expert on guerrilla warfare Sir R G K Thompson, warrants cautious optimism in progress of allied effort; says US must take 'risks for peace'; Adm officials refuse to divulge details on several points; Nixon's hope for negotiated solution in Paris seen diminished, his commitment to gradual disengagement tied to Vietnamization seen increased; his statements seen not contradicting recent statements by Laird; White House officials comment; withdrawal situation discussed

Newark (NJ): Auth head J Sivolella says that civil service law would compel him to restore former Chief Munic Judge J Del Mauro to $20,000 post as asst auth dir if Del Mauro requested reinstatement; Del Mauro resigned from bench after pleading 5th Amendment in refusing to answer grand jury questions involving his income tax returns; Sivolella says only way Del Mauro could be barred would be if he were convicted on criminal charge

AISI repts '69 output at record 134,418,000 tons

Fulbright made secret personal appeal in June 25 lr to Ho Chi Minh to disclose names of Amer POWs; Ho Chi Minh, in July 25 lr, rebuffed appeal

Premier Papadopoulos says cleansing of soc insts is prerequisite for elections, radio-TV s