August 14, 1973

US Sec Rogers reptdly will meet with envoys from other SEATO members in NY in Sept to stress non‐mil aspects of orgn as way of keeping it alive; decision to reduce traditional mil emphasis of SEATO has been discussed through diplomatic channels with other active members and is expected to be made formal when Rogers meets with reprs of Australia, GB, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand in NY on Sept 28; nonmil emphasis seen making official lack of enthusiasm by alliance members, except US and Thailand, for mil aspects; except for Thailand, other SEATO members already have mutual security pacts with US, making SEATO superfluous; announcement of SEATO move coincides with scheduled end to all US combat activity in Indochina; history of SEATO since its founding in ‘54 outlined

Special Watergate prosecutor A Cox argues on Aug 13, in brief filed in Fed Dist Ct, that Pres Nixon cannot be ‘proper judge’ of whether public interest requires his making tape recordings of White House conversations available to grand jury investigation; declares Pres is bound to his ‘highest and closest aides and associates’ who have been ‘accused in sworn testimony’ before Sen Watergate com; says Nixon's attys’ assertion that Pres has ‘power and thus the privilege to withhold information’ on basis of his own judgment ‘runs contrary to our entire const tradition’ by equating physical power with legal privilege; asserts Pres waived any right of confidentiality he may have enjoyed as to White House conversations by permitting ‘flood of incomplete and contradictory testimony’ and adding, in some cases, ‘his own version; says making tapes available to grand jury now will not threaten access of future Presidents to free and candid advice from aides because ‘surely there will be few occasions upon which a grand jury will have similar cause to believe there is material evidence of criminality of high officials in the papers and documents in the exec offices of the Pres'; asserts that Pres does not have any absolute ‘exec privilege’ to withhold information, and cts, rather than Pres, have power to decide when his qualified privilege outweighs public interest in making such facts available; maintains that it is irrelevant to question, as White House attys did, whether cts can force Nixon to comply with their orders as long as there is no legal question that they have authority to issue them; Cox quotes from book on Fed practice and procedure by Prof C A Wright, who is consultant to White House on case; quotes Wright as saying that cts should determine validity of claim of exec privilege and that scholars have found little support for basing exec privilege on separation of powers doctrine

27th body is found in Houston on Aug 13, making crime the largest multiple murder case in US history; involvement of E W Henley and D O Brooks with killer D A Corll extends back 3 yrs, but police do not know when slayings began; Brooks says that Corll had talked of killings before he knew him; incidents revd; backgrounds of Corll, Henley and Brooks detailed; Henley gives account of his alleged slaying of Corll; 2 young persons who were with him at time of Corll's death are identified as T C Kerley, 20, and Rhonda Williams, 15; Corll illus

Aug 14: Arab states on Aug 13 ask UN Security Council to meet its responsibilities and face up to ‘arrogant challenge’ of Israelis and their continued ‘defiance of the UN and internatl law'; Lebanon, referring to incident on Aug 10 in which Israeli jets in Lebanese airspace forced Lebanese Middle East Airlines jetliner chartered to Iraqi Airways to land in Israel for 2 hrs, accuses Israel of ‘grave and unprecedented act of air piracy'; Israeli repr Y Tekoah says that Israel's sole objective in diverting plane was ‘to stop the orgy of bloodshed by Arab terror groups'; expresses hope that UN will strive to rid world of terrorism; Egypt and Iraq attack US; Egyptian repr A E A Meguid says ‘US is mistaken in believing that support to Israel is likely to preserve its interest in the Middle East'; US, in delicate behind‐the‐scenes maneuvering, appears ready to vote with other 14 members of Council for condemnation of Israel, providing that such condemnation is not linked to any call for forceful measures against Israel, particularly econ sanctions; during debate, both Egypt and USSR call for sanctions; Soviet repr V S Safronchuk says ‘time cannot wait and the Security Council must take effective steps to put an end to acts of aggression and banditry'; Lebanese repr E Ghorra appears willing to adopt conciliatory position to avoid US veto; seems ready to accept, in place of sanctions, referral of matter to Internatl Civil Aviation Orgn of UN, in addition to condemnation move; Tekoah singles out Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine head Dr G Habash as man designated as target of Israeli action on Aug 10

Vice Pres Agnew's press sec M Thompson says on Aug 13 that Agnew's staff advisers believe Agnew will turn over his personal financial papers as requested by Fed prosecutors, probably this wk; Baltimore, Md, official sources confirm that Agnew's attys will meet with prosecutors in US Atty's office in Baltimore on Aug 14; sources close to Agnew are quoted as saying that only reason for Agnew's hesitation in handing over his bank records was that Pres Nixon had objected strenuously; members of permanent Agnew staff suggest that Agnew never intended to claim any Vice‐pres privilege or to duck prosecutors; Basco Corp, holding co that owns J E Greiner Co, issues statement on Aug 13 denying that it had knowingly bribed any office‐holders; illus of Dr M Radoff, Md's archivist, checking boxes of state records from time Agnew was Gov