March 7, 1970

Southern Sens seen willing to allow vote on extension of ‘65 Voting Rights Act in order to get to nomination of Carswell

Israeli Maj Gen Gur reptdly has warned Lebanon through intermediary that 6‐mi stretch of southern Lebanon will be turned into scorched‐earth desert if Lebanon does not bar guerrillas from operating out of southern Lebanon; warning from Eban, conveyed by US Amb Porter, is milder than reptd threat, repeating past warnings of reprisals for guerrilla activity; Lebanese seek to convince Big 4 that they do their utmost to curb commandos and that they have been quite effective; hold Israeli attack would upset curbs; believe Israelis are demanding that they declare civil war against commandos; Palestine Liberation Force repts killing 11 Israelis and wounding 7, Shtulla, northern Israel; US Under Sec Richarson meets separately with Israeli Amb Rabin and Lebanese Amb Kabbani to express concern and urge maximum restraint

OEO cancels summer recreation antipoverty programs to concentrate on yr‐round econ development projects for people aged 14‐25; holds summer programs not relevant to immediate or long‐term youth needs; guidelines announced to local agencies stress giving poor youth formal voice in planning programs, attempting to change attitudes toward their lives and insts established to serve them; NYC not notified officially; Admr Ginsberg deplores funding cuts

BLS repts unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, Feb, well above 3.5% level that prevailed, ‘68‐69, but far below rates, ‘58‐65; says unemployment rise was centered in mfg industries; puts number of unemployed at 3.8‐million, 870,000 above ‘69 level; attributes 60% of rise since Dec to layoffs; repts unemployment rise, which has been concentrated among white workers, is now affecting Negroes and whites; puts Negro jobless rate at 7%, 0.7% above Jan level; Repr Albert holds new figures are ‘concrete evidence’ that country is in recession; graph shows unemployment rate, ‘62‐Feb ‘70

NYC Fire Dept says some of 7 children killed in St Marks Av, Bklyn, fire might have been saved had 2 cos not been called to false alarm several blocks away