January 26, 1972

State Dept rules that diplomat's wife is 'private' person and 'not Govt employe,' and is only required to 'comport herself in manner which will not reflect discredit on US'; ruling states that rank in diplomatic community 'does not grant to any wife authority over, or responsibility for wives of other employes'; says wives' participation 'or lack thereof in embassy-sponsored social gatherings and orgns may not be noted in performance-evaluations' on their husbands; dept officials say ruling stems from complaints, mostly by young wives new to Foreign Service, of unreasonable demands made on them; various incidents cited; new guidelines were recommended by panel of 30 Foreign Service officers set up after protests were recd in June '71 wives' rept

Nixon's peace proposal praised by Congressional backers of Adm, greeted with skepticism and surprise by war critics; backers see disclosure of secret talks and US offer as evidence that Nixon did everything possible to achieve a negotiated settlement of war; critics doubt that Nixon went far enough or that his proposal will be acceptable to N Vietnam; Sen Fulbright says Nixon offered what would be considered in Western view a 'fair and generous' proposal, but what looks generous to us may not look generous to N Vietnam'; Sen Hart interprets Nixon offer as embracing concept of amendment offered by Sen Mansfield calling for withdrawal of all US troops contingent only on release of Amer POWs; praise for proposal offered by Sens Cooper, Stennis, Scott, Ford, Jackson, Reprs Hebert and Ashbrook and Gov G Wallace; those skeptical of proposal include Sens Muskie, Church, Javits and McGovern

Police order pedestrians off many NYC midtown blocks when winds up to 60 mph cause debris and glass to fall from bldgs under construction

text of US and S Vietnamese proposal for a negotiated settlement as released by White House

Chisholm announces candidacy for Dem Pres nomination; illus