March 5, 1973

64-EDC-DGM-BYLCommager, Henry Steele; 2d in series of articles on Pres Nixon's use of powers of Presidency and its effects on Govt and natl life discusses crisis between Pres and Cong, at heart of which is Pres Nixon's recent move to reorder domestic priorities by impounding funds and liquidating some agencies despite Cong mandates; says it also involves gen erosion of powers from Cong to Pres, process that has accelerated in Nixon Adm; says that what is at stake is whether Cong will survive as strong and effective branch of Govt and whether more power will continue to accumulate in Pres without accompanying restraints and means of accountability to public; some developments pointing to erosion of Cong authority include: Pres Nixon's budget message which said that in order to control inflation and carry out his camapign pledge not to seek tax rise, he would not fund some programs enacted by Cong and would curtail others; Pres Nixon's broadening of use of exec privilege to protect himself and members of his Adm from Cong and public inquiry; reorganization of exec branch by Pres thereby curtailing Cong access and authority in some areas of Govt; article says that fight with Cong is essentially over which branch of Govt will decide which programs will be cut and by how much

French Left scores heavy gains in Mar 4 elections, but most likely not enough to upset Gaullist Govt; with 22.4-million of 25.5-million votes counted, Gaullists win 38.1%, leftist coalition 43.2%, including 21.1% for Communists and 22.1% for Socialists, extreme left 3.2%, centrist Reformers 12.4% and extreme right 2.6%; 82% turnout highest in yrs; much is dependent on 2d round voting and accompanying bargaining; Govt's ability to draw votes from Reformers seen as key factor; run-off expected to be hard-fought and possibly close; 90% of 490 Assembly seats forced to run-off; few Socialists, Communist and centrist Reformers win election due to multitude of candidates; some best-known Govt candidates winning in '68 1st round are forced to run-offs; centrist Reform leader M Poniatowski to demand more cooperative policy toward EEC partners and more regional decentralization in France in return for swinging support to Gaullists; C de Gaulle's successors lacked his appeal to mobilize voter support with result sign of further pol change

EEC member countries decide Mar 4 to close foreign-exchange mkts while establishing defense in latest internatl monetary crisis; decide to invite US, Japan, Canada and other countries to Mar 9 conf; mkt closings will result in de facto float of currencies; EEC is considering linking its 9 currencies in float against dollar in proposal called Eur solution; French Min Giscard d'Estaing sees US responsible and proposes Amer solution in which US would support dollar in foreign-exchange mkts; EEC communique sees crisis not caused by parity disequilibrium but by existence of vast sums mobilized by speculators; W Ger Min H Schmidt says if joint float is not adopted, mark will be forced to float independently; GB Chancellor A Barber says GB's participation in joint float will depend on new acceptable rate for pound, right of EEC countries to change rates after consultation with Council of Mins and support for weak currencies in joint float without limit on amount or obligation to repay; Barber's conditions seen moving Eur long way toward common reserve pooling; illus

27 US POWs, 3 US civilians, 2 W Ger missionaries, and 2 Filipinos are released by Vietcong Mar 5; group greeted at Clark Air Base, Philippines, by Maj L A Torraca and Adm NAM Gayler; Hanoi still holds 234 US POWs, Vietcong holds 53 US POWs, 14 US civilians; 9 Amers and 1 Canadian are still held in Laos; illus of released Lt Comdrs G L Anderson and R B McCleary with flight nurse Capt P Campbell; Mar '67 and current illus of released Comdr R A Stratton

AFL-CIO pres Meany says he wants to cooperate with Nixon Adm in keeping prices down, but charges labor is being unfairly treated in period of 'galloping inflation', Mar 4 int on TV program Meet the Press