December 18, 1973

Fed Home Loan Bank Bd on Dec 17 makes it matter of policy that savings and loan insts may no longer discriminate against women or families dependent on working wife's income in making mortgage loans; bd's statement does not have technical force of law but it is binding for insts it regulates; S M Rohde, research assoc at Center for National Policy Review, says survey taken by bd in '72 indicated widespread discrimination against would-be borrowers on such grounds; one-fourth of the savings and loan insts said they did not count working wife's income in considering mortgage loan applications; policy statement also cited as potentially discriminatory the practice of requiring fluent English as prerequisite for loan approval

Nixon Adm on Dec 17 supports public employment program it previously opposed because of fear fuel shortage will create sharp increase in unemployment; accepts provision in manpower bill approved by HR-Sen conferees mandating public employment

Lufthansa (West German Airline): Arab guerrillas hijack Lufthansa Boeing 737 jetliner from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, Rome, Italy, on Dec 17 and force it to fly to Athens Greece with approximately 14 hostages aboard after attack against Pan Amer jetliner in which 31 were killed; demand release of Arab commandos being held by Greek Govt for attack on Athens Airport in Aug; Arab guerrillas illus taking Lufthansa pilot to parked jetliner past wounded victim of airport attack; map of hijacked craft's route

Israeli officials say on Dec 17 that their agreement to participate in Middle East peace conf in Geneva was given in exch for assurances of firm US support in talks from US Sec of State H A Kissinger; Kissinger leaves Israel for Lisbon after overnight stop devoted mainly to talks; he and Israeli Min A Eban indicate they achieved greater degree of accord than in past meetings, airport statements; Kissinger says they reached complete agreement about 'procedures and the terms of reference' of conf opening; says Israel will send delegation if other parties attend; says US will maintain close contacts with Israeli Govt throughout conf; reptdly failed to bring from Syria list of Israeli POWs, but reptdly expressed hope list might be produced by Dec 21; Israeli sources hold Israel will attend opening session whether or not Syria does so; Eban reaffirms Israeli stand that it will not attend unless Syria produces list and lets IRC visit POWs; Israeli Premier Meir's office holds Israel will not participate with Syria on any footing unless Syria releases list and IRC finds that condition of POWs is compatible with Geneva convs; says stand will not bar Israel from participating with Egypt and Jordan; both Kissinger and Eban decline to discuss wide speculation that Kissinger gave Meir some hopeful indications on POWs fate; Israeli sources say Kissinger assured Meir that US and USSR are determined to hold Geneva conf under their auspices with UN present only in background, stand Israelis favor; say Israel still has doubts on matter, but is more hopeful; say Kissinger told Meir that issue of inviting additional interested parties, allusion to reprs of Palestinians as separate entity, will not be raised at conf opening round; say cordial air of talks has spurred Israeli confidence in sincerity of US support; say opening round will largely be succession of speeches by UN Sec Gen Waldheim, Kissinger and foreign mins of USSR and 4 Middle East states; believe that after recess Israel and Egypt will meet in Jan in 2-sided sessions, attended by UN repr, on separating combat forces in Suez Canal area; Israel reptdly told Kissinger that full session of peace conf can not be resumed until last 3rd of Jan, when all mil votes in Dec 31 Israeli parliamentary election will have been counted and new govt formed

Sen Watergate com wins statutory authority on Dec 17 to seek help from Fed cts in obtaining some of Pres Nixon's tape recordings and documents; Pres Nixon says on Dec 17 that although he strongly objects to bill granting US Dist Ct, Washington, DC, jurisdiction over any suit on Watergate subpoenas, he is letting it become law without his signature; calls bill 'bad legis' that he cannot sanction but that veto would be misinterpreted by Cong and public; bill wipes out--for Watergate investigation only--the $10,000 minimum restriction on worth of issues that is required before a suit is brought in Fed ct and also provides specific act of Cong on which to base subpoenas; Sen R L Hruska says this bill places cts in position of being 'umpire or referee between Cong and Exec in disputes over production of documents and information'; text of Pres's statement