May 27, 1972

US Commerce Dept announces on May 26 Apr trade deficit of $699‐million, the 2d largest monthly deficit on record; gives 4‐month total deficit as $2.2‐billion, almost insuring a larger deficit for '72 than the '71 figure of $2‐billion; says Apr exports and imports are down from Mar, but above yr‐ago Apr figures; gives projected annual export rate of $47‐billion, and import rate of $53.6‐billion, up 8% and 18% respectively from '71; large increase in imports is natural result of devaluation of dollar, since same volume of imports now costs more; graph shows US exports and imports

Sec Laird returns to US on May 26 after several days of discussions with NATO defense mins in Brussels

NYC Mayor Lindsay office insists on May 26 that City Council raise property taxes in order to close gap in fiscal '73 expense budget; Councilman Troy, leader of tax revolt, says he would rather violate City Charter mandate to approve tax increase and go to jail than vote for tax rise; Lindsay is expected to veto $300,000 appropriation which would provide 25 more Civil Service auditors for Controller Beame's office in light of present fiscal '73 expense budget deficit

M Frankel, in dispatch from Moscow, analyzes strategic arms limitation accords signed in Moscow by Nixon and Brezhnev; sees purpose of accords to be freezing of terrifying weapons and making sure terror works by preventing any effective defense against them; sees arms race going on in other mil areas and in quality of nuclear warheads; discusses atmosphere of negotiations leading up to accords and Nixon Adm's defense of them; graphs and charts of US and USSR strategic missile strength and of what accords allow; illus of a USSR missile emplacement

US and USSR announce in Moscow on May 26 the formation of joint comm to devise comprehensive trade agreement that has proved impossible to reach during Nixon's visit to Moscow; announcement represents admission by both sides that they have been unable to reconcile differences on trade issue, constituting 1st disappointment of summit meeting; Nixon and Kosygin, in toasts at a state dinner given by Nixon, stress positive achievements of day, Nixon's last day of official meetings

rocket expert Dr W von Braun announces on May 26 that he is retiring from NASA to become corp vp‐engineering and development for Fairchild Industries Inc, major aerospace co; illus

Brezhnev, in Kremlin ceremony on May 26, signs with Nixon a treaty limiting defensive missile systems of US and USSR and an interim accord freezing offensive systems

May 27: (Fed Ct Rules on NJ Primary Voting) 3‐judge Fed Ct, Newark, on May 26 declares unconst NJ's primary election law prohibiting enrolled voters from casting ballots in other party contests; if decision stands, it could affect outcome of contest between Sens Humphrey and McGovern for state's 109 conv delegates; Repub voters could tip scales in favor of candidate they consider weaker against Pres Nixon, running unopposed on Repub ballot; decision, written by Judge C S Fisher and based on 1st Amendment challenge filed by ACLU, specifically throws out provisions that require enrolled voters to sit out 2 consecutive primary elections before switching parties; Atty Gen Kugler, directed with notifying local election bds of decision, silent; NJ Dem Chmn Bontempo says he does not know how decision will affect primary but expresses dismay; other pol sources contend that ruling will not have great effect on primary voting

May 27: N Vietnamese forces on May 26 launch offensive against S Vietnamese defenses near Kontum and Hue; suffer heavy losses but still control small areas; map; US warplanes stage more than 290 raids over N Vietnam; bomb enemy forces near Anloc; US helicopters reptdly destroy 11 N Vietnamese tanks outside Kontum; 320 N Vietnamese were reptdly killed in Kontum on May 26

Moderate Social Dem and Labor party in Ulster urges on May 26 that 400 Caths who left public office as protest against internment last Aug return to their posts, party statement; says gesture is demonstration to bring about reconciliation with Prots; decision to end boycott of Govt is viewed as favorable development in attempt by Whitelaw adm to get talks going; party reiterates its commitment not to enter pol talks until prisoners are released, but hints strongly that if IRA continues campaign of violence, party may decide to enter talks anyway; IRA responds to party action with series of massive bombing attacks in Belfast and Londondeny, killing 1 woman and injuring 14 persons; petition against violence has been signed by thousands of persons in Belfast; IRA is reptd to have said that there will be no attempts to interfere with dem rights; illus of bomb site in Londondeny

Irish Govt says on May 26 it is setting up special ct to try IRA members; ct will have 3 judges but no jury

Polish Communist party leader Gierek outlines plan for private, one‐family house as means of easing chronic housing shortage and encouraging people to spend some of savings; says Poland can never solve housing problem with apartment dwellings because bldg materials are in short supply and because bldg rate would have to be 2 1/2 times what it has been for last 20 yrs to produce needed 7.3‐million units by '90; notes that zoning laws are being changed, that credit and mortgages will be made available and that bldg materials indus are being set up; new Corp for Construction of One‐Family Housing refuses comment, saying too much has already been written about private housing plan; critic J Urban, writing in wkly Polityka in Apr, warned that house would become goal of life rather than means of making life easier; suggested bigger, better apartment bldgs as solution; illus