February 3, 1971

Nixon calls meeting of his leading mil and diplomatic advisers at White House, apparently to rev progress of major new allied operation under way in northwestern S Vietnam; announcement may be forthcoming on details on operation; White House spokesman only confirms meeting takes place and that it is attended by Rogers, Laird, Adm Moorer, CIA Dir Helms and Nixon aide H Kissinger; declines to confirm or deny repts that meeting was called to decide on whether S Vietnamese troops, supported by Amer air power, will strike across Laotian border; informed sources rept decision to order such a strike is up to Nixon; Cong sources say operation was launched last weekend and involves about 25,000 S Vietnamese and 9,000 Amer troops; Sen Foreign Relations Com, frustrated by news blackout, asks Nixon Adm to provide rept as soon as possible; agrees to petition Rogers and Laird to discuss new action in pub sessions 'as soon as security considerations permit'; Fulbright comments; State and Defense Dept spokesmen continue official silence on mil operations; Scott confirms major allied assault is under way in northwestern S Vietnam; estimates operation will run from 7 to 10 days; heavy Amer bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail is reptd for 117th consecutive day; Japanese news agency repts from Saigon that 4,000 to 5,000 S Vietnamese airborne troops have already been airlifted into the Boloven Plateau in southern Laos; USSR pub echoes rept; charges major force of S Vietnamese troops 'under direct command of Amer officers' has invaded Laos; several Sens, including Cooper, ask Adm about repts; are told no S Vietnamese troops have as yet entered Laos; Sen Aiken says he has been assured by Rogers's office that Cong ban against use of Amer ground troops in Laos will be respected; says he still does not know what is happening; Laird confirms no Amer troops will be used in Laos; denies substance of USSR rept; map

Laotian Defense Min Sisouk na Champassak says N Vietnamese appear to have started major offensive in northern Laos; repts their capture of 2 Laotian positions on fringe of Plaine des Jarres, Muong Soui and Phou Soui, and 4 small positions guarding Luang Prabang; says there has been no confirmation of repts by Japanese news agency that S Vietnamese units have entered Laos

spacecraft is now 205,000 mi from earth; astronauts rept seeing brief flashes of light when spacecraft is dark; scientists would like more information on frequency and regularity of such flashes, which have been observed by other astronauts and are believed to be cosmic rays; flight controllers rept docking system is working normally; say astronauts have made up time lost because of launch delay by making adjustments in spacecraft's trajectory; rept fuel is 30 lbs below expected level because of extra maneuvers during docking but stress it is not serious problem; direct astronauts to delete some of planned spacecraft stabilizing maneuvers to conserve fuel; astronauts are sleeping during daytime and working at night to prepare for lunar landing maneuvers, which are scheduled to take place during early morning hrs; reptd in excellent health

Nixon appts W J Casey to SEC and picks him to be chmn; he is prominent NY tax atty with no specific background in securities field

Con Edison cuts heat in subways for 6 hrs in effort to prevent elec power crisis