March 8, 1974

Harry L Sears testifies at Mitchell-Stans trial that on same day he gave Robert L Vesco's $200,000 cash contribution to Maurice H Stans, John N Mitchell arranged for him to speak with then-SEC Chmn William J Casey on behalf of Vesco; says this followed full yr of unsuccessful efforts to get apptmt with Casey; says he learned from his meeting with Casey and then-SEC counsel Bradford Cook that comm had strong case against Vesco; relates that at Repub Natl Conv Stans assured him there was no record of Vesco's contribution, and warned the SEC situation was 'too hot to handle'; says Vesco was worried about SEC and told him to 'tell Stans to get SEC off my back'; says he introduced Vesco to then-White House aide John D Ehrlichman at pol dinner in NYC on Sept 15 '72 (L)

Pres Nixon's statement that he learned last Mar 21 that hush money had been paid to Watergate burglars raises new questions about Nixon's actions after he learned of cover-up; legal experts say Fed law requires that knowledge of commission of a felony be reptd to appropriate authorities; Nixon did not rept statement by then-White House counsel John W Dean 3d to Fed prosecutors who were then investigating case but ordered his own aides to find out facts; previous statements by Nixon about Mar 21 meeting noted (M)

Labor Dept on Mar 7 says oil prices did not rise as much in Feb as in Jan, but still acct for 1/3 of increase in nonfarm prices; graph (S)

3-day work week imposed on most of Brit indus because of coal strike to end at midnight Mar 8 under Govt directive issued on Mar 7; Govt estimates that 3-day wk cost nation about $4.6-billion in lost production and wages; speculation that Wilson Govt will be unable to hold line against other union demands leads to weakening of pound sterling; other unions are beginning to use coal miners settlement as basis for new demands despite assurances from TUC that unions in gen would moderate demands

HR Judiciary Com discloses that Pres Nixon, in apparent attempt to limit scope of impeachment inquiry, refuses to give com tape recordings or documents that do not bear directly on Watergate cover-up; com members agree to put off until later this mo a decision on whether to issue formal subpoenas for evidence of type Pres insists on withholding; panel members say they will issue such subpoenas if necessary; com votes unanimously to urge Judge John J Sirica to supply 'forthwith' sealed rept of Watergate grand jury and briefcase said to contain evidence of Nixon's possible role in alleged conspiracy to obstruct Watergate investigation; Pres's decision is expressed in lr from James D St Clair to com counsel John Doar; Doar says if com later seeks subpoenas that are ignored or defied by Pres, Nixon could be held in contempt of Cong and his refusal to cooperate could itself become grounds for impeachment; says his Feb 25 request for number of specific items of White House evidence included 6 tapes that have not been turned over to Watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski and which are related to alleged cover-ups; Reprs R F Drinan, Charles B Rangel, D W Dennis and J Conyers Jr comment; illus of com Chmn P W Rodino Jr and Doar (L)