January 2, 1970

On signing Natl Environmental Policy Act and creating Council on Environmental Quality, informal statement to reporters at San Clemente, Calif, White House

holiday scene, NYC; illus

top Adm officials reptdly have agreed to press for expansion of Safeguard system; informed sources rept about $1.5-billion has been earmarked in fiscal '71 budget for enlarged program; about $900-million would be used to complete procurement of missiles and radar equipment for 1st phase of program, which involves defense of 2 Minuteman ICBM complexes and which was narrowly approved after bitter Sen fight in Aug '69; balance of funds would be used to start deployment of expanded system; Defense Dept officials have reptd that studies are under way to decide whether to stress protection against Communist Chinese missile threat, additional protection of Minuteman against Soviet, or a combination of the two; most sources expect 1st alternative to be selected; 1 Defense Dept official says decision to expand program will not be considered final unless Nixon announces it; arguments for and against system and its expansion discussed

Jordan repts Israel has knocked out vital E Ghor Canal on Jordan River east bank in course of series of air raids centered on town of Irbid; repts 11 killed, 12 hurt; Israeli claim that it allowed repair of canal after June raid because of King Hussein assurances through US Embassy that he would seek to curb guerrilla attacks on Israeli settlements in Jordan Valley and Israeli renewed destruction of canal in Aug when guerrilla raids increased recalled; Al Fatah guerrilla group claims responsibility for rocket attacks on northern Israeli town of Metullah and settlement of Qiryat Shmona; repts capturing soldier in Metullah; Israel says raiders came from Lebanon; Israel repts blasting E Ghor Canal in retaliation for mortar attack against Ashdot Yakov, repts 2d strike against Jordanian installations opposite Israeli settlements in Arava (eastern Negev); repts air attack on UAR targets in Suez Canal northern sec; grenade thrown at Israeli mil vehicle, Hebron, occupied Jordan, misses and kills son and bro of Sheikh Hilmi el-Mukhtasib, supreme Moslem religious authority of Jordan west bank, Arab is killed, 4 hurt when grenade is tossed into crowd in Dabarrah Sq, Jerusalem Old City; map

Pope offers World Peace Day prayer, Rome parish Ch of Jesus; prays that world be forgiven for giant industries that prosper on arms trade