February 27, 1974

Segments of Ethiopian Army, seeking higher pay, reptdly seize control of Asmara, nation's 2d largest city, on Feb 26; place commanding gen and other sr officers of Army div there under house arrest; following action Emperor Haile Selassie increases pay from $41 to $50 a mo; soldiers reject pay raise as too small and seize control of Asmara Internatl Airport; action reflects popular concern over inflation and unemployment seen in earlier strikes and riots; is also seen as most serious move against Haile Selassie since '60, when imperial bodyguard revolted and attempted to depose him; other econ problems discussed; map (L)

Pres Nixon's accusation that Cong Dems act 'irresponsibly' on educ legis and fail to move fast enough on health ins seen as further indication of gen hardening of Pres's position in number of areas as shown in his assertion at his Feb 25 news conf that he will not resign and that he can only be impeached upon evidence that he violated criminal law (S)

HR Judiciary Com members challenge Pres Nixon's assertion that he cannot be impeached except on basis of evidence that he violated criminal law but several com members say that outcome of investigation will probably turn on Nixon's involvement, if any, in criminal aspects of Watergate scandal; com officials confirm that request for some 700 pages of documents and 17 tape recordings was sent to White House Feb 25; sources disclose that com counsel John Doar met with Watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski as part of continuing effort to gain access to evidence gathered for 3 Watergate grand juries and to determine what specific evidence Nixon refused to supply Jaworski earlier this mo; Sen H Scott presses Nixon to make full disclosure of all relevant evidence to both com and Jaworski; com sr Repubs, including R McClory, C E Wiggins, C W Sandman Jr and T F Railsback, say they agree for most part with com's position; Dem com members R W Kastenmeier, J R Waldie and E Mezvinsky comment (M)

US official says on Feb 26 that team of US Navy demolition experts were sent to Suez Canal at Egypt's request to advise on clearing mines and other explosives (S)

LONDON, Feb. 26—The gold rush continued throughout the European bullion markets today as the metal surged above $175 and touched $184 an ounce here before settling back at the close.