December 7, 1973

White House counsel J F Buzhardt Jr tells Asst US Attys J W Rayhill and K R Feinberg that tape recording of conversation between Pres Nixon and former White House counsel J W Dean 3d will be given to Fed Judge L P Gagliardi, who is presiding over trial of former Nixon Cabinet officers J N Mitchell and M H Stans; Judge had said he would not allow Dean to testify for prosecution unless he recieved tape, which Dean says contains conversation he had with Pres on Vesco-Mitchell-Stans case

Con Ed on Dec 6 repts dramatic decrease in power use as evidence that consumers are conserving energy; says power use dropped .6% when 4% increase was expected, natural gas use decreased 2.1% compared with projected 8% rise and steam output was down 8.4%, compared with expected rise of 2.7%; vice chmn L H Roddis says it is 1st instance in 30 yrs that power purchases declined; Munic Service Admr Musicus says energy savings are not high enough; says oil inventory is still holding up but at slightly lower level than previous wk; says contingency measures may have to be applied soon; co says figures are factored for temperature and lighting conditions, asserting analysis is truly meaningful; Musicus cautions against taking comfort in announcement, citing apprehension about heating oil situation; predicts price rises and disparate prices depending on where suppliers obtain oil; cites current $15 per bbl price; says Exxon Corp has not moved from 14% cutback stance and that Corp Counsel is preparing action alleging corp did not give proper advance notice of cutback; Exxon says its policy is to treat all customer fairly and that corp will abide by Fed allocation regulations; NJ state agencies are ordered to cut gasoline consumption by 25%; NJ Energy Crisis Coordinating Com dir F M Papale Jr orders thermostats cutback to 68 degrees, decreased use of state bldgs on wkends and evening and cuts in corridor and parking lot lighting; NJ Gov Cahill, in lr for FPC Chmn Nassikas, scores comm failure to meet with NJ officials on energy matters pending before comm; cites Public Service Elec & Gas Co application for license to import LNG from Algeria has been pending since May '72; says as result of comm inaction co could lose contract, be deprived of supplies and cause unemployment in NJ; Conn extends Christmas school recess 3 days until Jan 7 to conserve fuel; illus

Level of fighting in S Vietnam in in last month is fiercest since Jan truce accord; Communists have taken initiative in most actions, though S Vietnamese Air Force has been bombing heavily; it is not clear that Communists have started a much-predicted dry-season offensive; foreign analysts remain uncertain about intentions of Communists for '74; agree that there will be more and probably heavier fighting in '74; a 'strategic attack' by Communists appears to be unfolding in Quang Duc Prov; action detailed; map; Communists sabotaging of Nha Be oil depot seen as their most successful act of econ warfare in '73; speculation on where Communists will strike next; Communists reptdly continue to infiltrate troops and weapons through Bing Duong to the east as far as Phuoc Thuy to give them a line of control running north of Saigon across the width of S Vietnam

The stock market bounded ahead yesterday in a dynamic recovery that saw the sixth biggest point advance ever for th? Dow‐Jones industrial average. The blue‐chip indicator soared 25.81 points to 814.12.

LIRR and Penn Central commuters will be issued round-trip tickets for price of single fares as part of MTA's attempt to lure people to public transportation on 'gasless Sundays'