February 10, 1971

EEC Mins reach agreement on plan for making EEC into single currency area over next decade; agreement to be put into effect retroactively to Jan 1 '71 and will provide new thrust of pol unity in Eur; consists of series of compromises chiefly over fed institutions that might be established as monetary integration deepens; France and W Ger postpone decisions over federalizing customs union and agree to move ahead in trial of intensified monetary cooperation over next 3 to 5 yrs; French Min Schumann hails move; Dutch Sec de Koster cites advantages of trial period; issues in conflict stemming from moves toward currency unity revd

Knapp Comm, which has been investigating repts of NYC police corruption, subpoenas 21 policemen for questioning about theft of $15,000 worth of meat from Great Plains Packing Co plant, Greenwich Village, last mo; police rept they received anonymous phone call charging policemen were loading meat into radio patrol cars; stress no evidence linking men to burglary has been found despite painstaking search

Meir says Israel is ready to back reopening of Suez Canal and discuss 'mutual de-escalation of mil confrontation' with UAR but reiterates Israel's refual to withdraw troops until peace agreement is reached, s, Knesset; says that reopened canal should be available to shipping of all nations including Israel; uses mild language in referring to Sadat's proposal; s is intended to close no doors on Sadat's proposal and leave all alternatives open pending further clarification of UAR's position; despite initial negative reaction to proposal by Israelis, further study led to conclusion that it might be worth exploring; Meir, commenting on tone of Sadat's statement, says it was not that of peace; says he refrained from declaring that UAR is ready to make peace with Israel; scores US decision to participate in Big 4 discussion on possible guarantee of peace settlement; says any discussion of guarantees by internatl forum prior to peace agreement and establishment of borders aids Arab leaders to evade making peace; demands US refrain from backing such moves

Adm planners assert privately that Laotian incursion can buy 1 yr or possibly 2 yrs during which it will be extremely hard for N Vietnam to mount effective offensive in either S Vietnam or Cambodia; say result can be achieved not only through temporary destruction and disruption of enemy mil supplies, but also by establishing precedent for S Vietnamese operations in southern Laos; Pentagon and State Dept officials cite these aims as specific objectives of Laotian campaign; Rogers and Laird, in Cong appearances, say goals of Laotian incursion are to improve S Vietnam's security and facilitate continued withdrawals of US troops; Laird insists incursion, rather than widening war, shortens it; Sen Aiken repts drive should permit US to withdraw men more safely and at earlier date than would have been possible otherwise; Adm's analysis is based on contention that N Vietnamese cannot mount major offensives unless they are able to move supplies along Ho Chi Minh Trail; officials say heavy Amer bombing throughout war has achieved destruction of considerable enemy supplies; note enemy is dependent on overland routes now because of closing of Cambodian ports to N Vietnam, which took place last yr; details on Adm's analysis

Lindsay announces zoning proposal designed to preserve prestige retail character of 5th Av which is being threatened by competing uses, rising rents and soaring land values, news conf; proposal, if adopted by City Planning Comm and Estimate Bd, will return housing to midtown sec of av and initiate bldg of as many as 25 tall, triple-purpose towers flanked by sidestreet arcades and combining stores, offices and apts; under proposal, sec of 5th Av from 38th St to 59th St will be designated as special retail dist, and at least 2 lower floors of all new bldgs erected in dist would have to be rented to retail tenants; Midtown Planning and Development Office Dir J T Robertson and realty experts comment; rendering