February 20, 1974

Israeli Defense Min Dayan serves notice on Feb 19 that he will refuse to join Israel's next Cabinet unless Premier Meir's Labor party agrees to share power with right-wing opposition party; Dayan's position puts him in direct conflict with Meir, who repeatedly asserted that coalition including right-wing group would be 'govt of paralysis'; reiterates her position after Dayan's statement and expresses hope that he will reconsider position; is quoted as saying that she will not accept extension of her mandate to form new govt, which she received from Pres Ephraim Katzir; conflicting positions seen likely to split ruling Labor party and force new elections before new Govt can be formed; politicians view Dayan's move as bold maneuver designed to strengthen his position within party or force new elections; he presumably hopes to bring about broad-based Govt of natl unity that will reflect his views on territorial concessions to Arabs; current pol situation is likely to complicate Syrian-Israeli troop disengagement negotiations, expected to begin in near future; Labor party reprs are continuing negotiations with Natl Religious and Ind Liberal parties; party officials say that restricted coalition could be constructed by Feb 20, with or without Dayan; Meir's alternatives, in case coalition cannot be constructed, cited; Dayan's motives are unclear; decision was conveyed to Labor party caucus by Transportation Min Shimon Peres; Dayan illus (M)

Labor Sec Peter J Brennan, in move unusual for Cabinet officer, provides Teamsters pres Frank E Fitzsimmons with forum of news conf at dept to propose legis relaxing night-time speed limits; Brennan proposes that speed limits be raised from 55 mph to 65 mph on interstate hwys between 10 PM and 6 AM; says Teamsters will drop demand for renegotiation of contracts if Cong permits higher speeds (S)

Perth Amboy chapter of NJ League of Women Voters grants membership to 11 men in defiance of orgn's bylaws; league's natl pres Mrs Lucy Wilson Benson says matter will come up at next conv, and many in league believe resolution to allow male membership will pass; 3 of men admitted to Perth Amboy chapter, Robert N Wilentz, Assemblyman George J Otlowski and City Council pres Frederick Richards, are considered city's most prominent politicians (M)

2 NYC police officers reptdly have supplied evidence to special NYS prosecutor Maurice H Nadjari showing that at least half of detectives assigned to elite unit charged with arresting major narcotics dealers accepted large cash bribes between '68 and '71; have been assisting investigative unit probing theft of large quantities of drugs from Police Dept, and reptdly have provided leads and other information that strongly indicate extensive departmental corruption; reptdly agreed to testify after they had been implicated as participants in various bribery schemes; 1 identified as Lt Julia Tucker (L)

Sen Watergate com Chmn Sen Ervin announces com will hold no further public hearings because com believes it should not interfere unduly with ongoing impeachment process of HR Judiciary Com or with criminal cases which will soon be prosecuted; says com will continue to investigate various allegations, pursue its ct case to gain access to White House tapes and prepare its final rept; Sen agrees, by voice vote, to extend com's life until May 28; Sen E J Gurney votes against decision to continue investigations; Ervin says Pres Nixon's friend Charles G Rebozo will be called to testify under oath; com officials say Ervin changed his mind about further public hearings because investigators had developed little consequential information that had not already been reptd and because of Judge Gerhard A Gesell's Feb 8 statement dismissing com's suit to gain access to White House tapes; Ervin is said to be adamant about appealing Gesell's decision (L)