November 9, 1973

EPA Admr Train on Nov 8, testifying before Sen Interior Com on Sen Jackson bill to consider any variances in air quality on case-by-case basis and limiting power to issue such variances to 1 yr, asserts it is unrealistic to suppose damage can be held to level of primary standards

Egypt on Nov 8 is awaiting 1st signs that Israeli forces are beginning to lift siege of city of Suez as part of agreement worked out by Egyptian Pres A Sadat and US Sec of State H A Kissinger; informed diplomats say Kissinger has obtained from Sadat promise that he will free Israeli prisoners and ease blockade of Strait of Babel Mandeb at southern end of Red Sea if Israel will pull its forces back to cease-fire lines of Oct 22; Sadat reptdly has obtained committment from Kissinger that US will press for conf on final settlement of Middle East conflict before end of '73; informed sources also rept that Kissinger assured Sadat that in future US will not support any Middle East nation that initiates fighting; end of siege of Suez and entrapment of Egyptian 3d Corps by Israeli forces is regarded as cardinal by Egyptians since estimated 4,000 civilian and mil wounded are trapped in city and Sinai without adequate care; Egyptian sources stress that ceasefire remains dangerous pending start of Israeli pullback from Suez city; thrust by Egyptian mil forces across Suez on Oct 6 seen as move to break stalemate that has existed since '67 conflict and to unleash forces capable of carrying Middle East toward permanent settlement, including withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied lands; use of Arab oil as weapon seen partially fulfilling Arab hopes, but major importance is being attached to meeting between Kissinger and Sadat, which many Arabs feel indicate that Kissinger is no longer 'the silent partner for Israel' but 'an active catalyst for future negotiation'; new Egyptian view of Kissinger will, it is felt, heavily influence Cairo's actions; many Egyptians reptdly are impressed by Kissinger's ability to cut swiftly through many layers of complex issues; feel most important aspect of meeting was sense of urgency Sadat was able to impart to Kissinger and are pleased with abrupt dispatch of US Asst Sec of State J S Sisco to Tel Aviv; Govt-controlled Egyptian press repts Egyptian-US agreement to resume full diplomatic relations as well as aspects of discussion of interim Middle East agreement; maps depict provision corridor to trapped 3d Corps in Sinai, area around Suez siezed by Israel after Oct 22 cease-fire and Strait of Bab el Mandeb

NJ major high-speed tollways on Nov 8 reduce their speed limits to 50 mph in what is believed to be first statewide response to Pres Nixon's appeal for fuel-saving efforts; NJ Tpk lowers its speed limit from 60 mph; original speed limits on Garden State Pkwy were 60 mph in northern area and 65 mph in south; normal speed limit on Atlantic City Expressway was 70 mph; tpk police rept that many motorists are making effort to adhere to new speed limit; say they will not issue tickets for speeding until new limit is publicized; Gov Cahill has not ordered reduction in hwy speed limits; directs state-owned vehicles to travel no faster than 50 mph; NJ Environmental Protection Dept aide says bumper stickers with message '50 Max' are being prepared for state vehicles; tpk, with its electrically regulated speed-limit signs, is first of state's tollways to impose reduced speed limit; illus of signs on tpk announcing new speed limit

Drug and Hosp Union Local 1199 on Nov 8 announces it will continue its strike against 48 hosps and nursing homes in met area, despite $500,000 ct fine imposed by Fed Dist Judge R L Carter; Carter rules strike is in defiance of restraining order; promises further daily fines if walkout continues; union pres L Davis is fined $10,000 with additional levies also pending; Carter says he will suspend all fines if 30,000-member local removes its picket lines immediately and returns to work; union spokesman M Foner announces strike will continue at least until Nov 11, when members are to vote on its continuance in secret balloting at picket sites; says Nov 11 was date set because Carter has directed Cost of Living Council to convene no later than Nov 10 to decide issue of pending wage increase; says that in addition to $500,000 fine, local will be liable to additional penalties of $25,000 for each day it continues strike; union sources say fines will be contested in ct; NYC Bd of Health declares health emergency, saying that strike has caused serious shortages of blood, fuel, med and food; declaration vests bd with broad power in Comr of Health; bd calls on Mayor Lindsay to exercise all necessary powers to insure maintenance of public health; Cost of Living Council officials say increase sought by union comes to 11%, not 7.5%, when fringe benefits are taken into account; strike conditions at several insts described

NYS Sup Ct Justice Gellinoff rules Nov 8 that NYC has to continue maximum base rent program permitting rent increases up to 7.5% per yr in many rent-controlled apts; NYC City Council had voted last June to repeal program; in theory, the decision means that next major round of rent increases will take effect beginning Jan 1, '74, but ruling will be appealed and it is possible that increases could be stayed by cts while appeal is argued; Gellinoff ruled that city council could not repeal maximum base rent law but also ruled that council could repeal provision which gave special hardship increases to landlords; basic ruling that council could not repeal base rent law hinged on fact that between law's enactment in '70 and its repeal in '73, the state had passed a law restricting city's power to act on rent control