April 15, 1974

Andrei D Sakharov issues statement Apr 14 in which he disagrees with Aleksandr I Solzhenitsyn that there is serious threat of major war between USSR and China (S)

EPA Admr Train urges caution on proposal by Environmental Quality Council for Fed leasing for offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Alaska and along East Coast, Apr 14 int on TV program Face the Nation; says that while some of developments recommended would be acceptable, others may be unacceptable; ref is to 318-page rept by council not yet published but which has been leaked to press in past few wks; Repr Gerry E Studds, whose dist includes Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket--area lying west of Georges Bank, one of sites recommended for oil leasing--not satisfied with rept; rept recommends 23 sites for potential drilling; concedes that drilling, transporting oil and bldg of refineries carry environmental risk but says that leasing can be undertaken under carefully stipulated and controlled conditions; says that area of greatest potential damage is in Gulf of Alaska while 2 sites on Georges Bank pose least risk; Studds notes danger to beaches from spills; also says that potential impacts on commercial fisheries should be assessed before development begins (M)

Easter Sunday services throughout NYC described; illus (M)

Sen H H Humphrey discusses his return to full schedule of work, travel and speeches after 2 mos (Nov and Dec '73) of daily treatment by heat X-ray for possible cancer of bladder, which left him exhausted, physically and spiritually and afterward caused him severe pain and other problems, int; says at one point he wished for death; Humphrey por (L)

Syrian mil spokesman says 4 Israeli planes were shot down by Syrian air defenses on Apr 14; says 12 Syrians were killed and 8 wounded in fighting on Golan hts; says Syrian forces foiled Israeli attack on Mt Hermon and opened up heavy artillery and tank gunfire along entire front; says several Israeli positions and mil installations were destroyed (S)