January 17, 1974

The American Petroleum Institute reported yesterday that oil imports showed a sharp decline last week. The institute's report also indicated that gasoline stocks in the United States fell to a low ;level usually ‘reached only in midsummer. Page 55.

Edison Elec Inst, reporting nationwide drop in electricity consumption, says it cannot determine how much of reduction is attributable to reinstituted daylight saving time (S)

special Watergate prosecution establishes in ct on Jan 16 that 18 1/2‐min erasure from June 20 ‘72 Nixon‐Haldeman tape must have been made between last Oct 1 and mid‐Nov; Secret Service agent Louis Sims testifies that Uher universal 5000, machine technical experts say was used for erasures, was purchased mid‐day on Oct 1; FBI spokesman says that special Watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski has asked FBI to investigate circumstances surrounding gap in tape and to rept its findings directly to prosecutor's office; Judge John J Sirica says he is considering recommending that prosecutor submit whole matter to grand jury; previous testimony by Rose Mary Woods on gap noted; Stephen B Bull testifies he and Woods took number of tapes to Key Biscayne, Fla, weekend of Oct 4, group of tapes, according to previous testimony, included June 20 tape; Bull says tape was kept in safe in Woods's villa at hotel in Key Biscayne, guarded by Secret Service when she was not using it; says to his knowledge, Woods, John C Bennett, J Fred Buzhardt Jr and he himself had access to tape; Bennett denies erasing tape; illus of Bull (L)

Many NYC principals rept that greatest immediate concern arising from strike by maintenance workers on city school system is that accumulations of uncollected garbage may present health hazard; Bd of Health spokesman says it is watching situation closely (S)

Jan 17‐19: Sec Kissinger shuttles back and forth between Tel Aviv and Aswan on Jan 16, arriving in Tel Aviv late at night confident that agreement is near that would pave way for separation of Israeli and Egyptian forces near Suez Canal; main problems reptdly have been resolved; Kissinger, in talks with Egyptian Pres Sadat, Foreign Min Ismail Fahmy, C/S Lt Gen Mohammed Abdel Ghany el‐Gamasy and other Egyptian officials, reptdly brought Israeli and Egyptian positions together on 90% of document; Israeli Cabinet is expected to meet on Jan 17 to endorse document; earlier in day, Kissinger met with Israeli Defense Min Moshe Dayan, Foreign Min Abba Eban and Amb to US Simcha Dinitz; Israeli Premier Meir, ailing from virus infection, does not attend meeting; Kissinger illus; map of area (L)