March 18, 1974

Arab oil mins meeting in Vienna on March 17 postpone expected lifting of oil embargo against US; Saudi Oil Min Sheik Ahmed Zaki al‐Yamani says that lifting of embargo will be announced on March 18 and that Arab oil production will be increased, though not necessarily to pre‐Mideast‐War level; Libyan Petroleum Min Izzidin al‐Mabruk says Libya will maintain embargo against US, but that it is Syrian request that has forced postponement of announcement; OPEC communique says that oil prices will not be rolled back but that oil mins agreed to meet again if any member country requestment meeting before July with view to revising posted prices for oil (M)

Pravda, in most pointed criticism of US to appear in Moscow in mos, ridicules Kissinger's Middle East diplomacy only wk before Kissinger is due in Moscow for talks with Brezhnev to prepare for Nixon's expected visit in June (M)

rage

Saigon command repts, Mar 18, fighting between Kontum and Chuong Nghia is heaviest since cease‐fire; lists more than 500 casualties on both sides, including 348 Communists and 72 of its own soldiers killed; repts from field indicate over 800 casualties; map (M)

Gasoline situation is almost back to normal on Sunday, March 17, as gasoline stations open for business and increased auto usage creates heavy traffic on major arteries; high gasoline prices cited as reminder of winter gasoline shortage; survey by Automobile Club of NY repts 44 of 161 stations open in met area; also repts no stations opened in Manhattan while Hess station on 10th Ave was doing steady business; 40‐mile survey of northern and central Nassau County showed 18 of 75 stations pumping gas, many for first time on Sunday since Nov, ignoring state‐mandated odd‐even allocation system, with few complaints noted; business is relatively slow on LI; Westbury, LI, Shell Oil attendant John Doerrbecker comments; 1/4 Queens stations are open while those on city pkwys remained closed; Garden State Pkwy, NJ, stations re‐opened for first time on Sunday, although purchases were limited to $2; several stations indicate they were open on Sunday because they found themselves with too much gasoline after mos of too little; co‐leased Sunoco station owner Edwin Mallia explains that he has some 20,000 gals of gasoline and faces $300 rent increase from co if he fails to sell full allotment by end of mo; illus of traffic on Bklyn‐Queens Expwy and Bronx station attendant (M)