June 2, 1973

Esso Brussels (Tanker) and Sea Witch (Containership): Amer Export containership Sea Witch rams tanker Esso Brussels on June 2 near Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Bklyn, triggering series of explosions, fires and causing deaths of at least 5 persons and injuries to 34; seaman B Lopez repts he observed smoke and flames that extended 75 ft above upper roadway as he approached SI tower of bridge in his car; adds taut anchor chain extended from tanker which appeared to have been rammed in starboard side, spilling oil over 150-ft area; firemen rept continuous explosions occurred on vessels which remained locked together, drifting toward bridge; undergirding of bridge is scorched by flames, leading to speculation that steel superstructure may have been weakened by heat; police sgt repts rescue of 14 survivors by fireboats, USCG vessels and tugboat G MacAllister; notes that between 50 and 100 men remain unaccounted for; says loud explosions, fire and bright search lights trained on area attracted large crowds of spectators, and that motorists who abandoned cars on bridge after sighting fire were responsible for massive traffic jam; illus of burning ships as seen from Bklyn

San Francisco clothing mfr, Paul Maris Co, charges that its former pres misrepresented himself under alias of P Maris as mil security expert when he was confessed stock swindler; co, which has filed complaints against Maris, believes his real name to be G M Zelmanowitz; co atty W Trautman says conversations with Justice Dept officials left 'no doubt' that ousted pres was being guarded by Fed marshals to prevent Mafia reprisals because he had testified for Govt in '70 trial of A De Carlo, reputed Mafia leader

Nixon and Pompidou end talks in Iceland June 1 with no concrete agreements; Nixon had hoped to persuade French to accept idea of new declaration of Atlantic principles, perhaps even formal 'charter,' as outlined by Kissinger Apr 23, but this is deferred pending detailed talks on certain concrete issues by subordinates; French also poured cold water on Nixon's hopes for a Eur summit meeting during his trip this fall; Amers, on other hand, may have moved French closer to more active participation in Atlantic diplomacy

NYS Legis passes bill abolishing 90-day period of conciliation which is mandatory under state's 6-yr-old liberalized divorce law; spokesman for Gov Rockefeller says he does not know if Gov will sign or veto bill; measure, sponsored by State Sen R M Goodman and Assemblyman T J Murphy, would dissolve network of State Conciliation Bureaus and make it easier to obtain a divorce; critics say bureaus have had little success in reconciling broken marriages; C Tobin, sec of NYS Catholic Com and legis lobbyist for RC Ch, denounces passage of bill, saying 'it's almost incomprehensible' that legis will not appropriate $1-million to run bureaus 'to save families' when hundreds of millions are spent 'to pick up pieces in family dissolution' through welfare and other programs

Arab oil producers reptdly are selling dollars on Eur money mkts to bolster their negotiating position at forthcoming talks with Western cos in Geneva on oil prices; danger Arabs will keep dumping dollars to force price increases noted