May 9, 1974

DETROIT, May 8—The Ford Motor Company announced today price increases averaging $163 on its 1974 cars and trucks “to offset in part unprecedented cost increases.” The rises amount to $113, or 2.4 per cent, in the sticker price, and $50, or 1.1 per cent, for options that have become standard equipment.

Dr John McLaughlin, Jesuit priest who is special asst to Pres Nixon, holds extraordinary news conf to deny charges by Sen H D Scott and other Repubs that, as Scott put it, the Watergate transcripts portray 'deplorable, disgusting, shabby, immoral performances' by Pres and his aides; this unusual defense of Nixon is part of White House effort to block defections of old friends and allies as Nixon again 'stonewalls' HR Judiciary Com and Watergate prosecutor against further release of Watergate conversations; McLaughlin, in theological analysis of transcripts, says that any conclusion that they are amoral or immoral 'is erroneous, unjust and contains elements of hypocrisy; holds Nixon acquitted himself throughout discussions with honor; holds Nixon's concern in keeping Watergate scandal from spreading to White House was merely exercise of 'damage control'; says language has 'no moral meaning' and use of profanity by Nixon and his aides served as form of 'emotional drainage,' an understandable 'form of therapy'; White House deputy press sec Gerald L Warren says rumors that Nixon is considering resigning are not true; says, in reply to question about Sen B Goldwater's statement that he believed Nixon would resign if impeached, that Nixon does not believe he will be impeached; career sketch; illus (L)

Pan American World Airways, concerned over two crashes this year in which 204 persons were killed, ordered for its entire 140‐plane fleet yesterday a new cockpit warning system designed to prevent such disasters.

Fed Appeals Ct on May 8 unanimously orders reopening of FPC hearings on Con Ed's controversial Storm King power plant on ground that danger of killing Hudson River's fish life has not been adequately considered; decision, written by Judge Robert P Anderson, says earlier findings that fish would not be harmed were based on assumption that river flows steadily in 1 direction instead of flowing back and forth before plant 4 times a day as tidal estuary; says hearings must determine whether increased exposure to plant's water suction increases risk to fish life in river; environmentalists also charge that since river is major spawning ground for many species of fish, fish population of entire Eastern Seabord would be endangered; ct rejects, at least temporarily, petition of Scenic Hudson Preservation Conf that plant be reconsidered in light of energy crisis and giant escalation in estimated cost of plant; does not order work on plant to stop; John Adams of Natural Resources Defense Council, which represented Hudson River Fishermen's Assn in pressing case for preserving fish life, expresses confidence that plant can be blocked completely; map (M)

Willy Brandt, who resigned as Chancellor of W Ger on May 6 following discovery of E Ger spy on his staff, says in televised speech that he quit, in part, because 'there were indications my private life would be drawn into speculation about the case'; says it is 'grotesque' to maintain he resigned out of fear of being blackmailed by the spy, Guenter Guillaume; says he now realizes that he made mistake in agreeing to leave Guillaume in position to see important classified materials, including secret messages, during vacation trip to Norway in '73; Guillaume served as aide de camp at that time; Brandt's allusions to his private life are unclear although private sources say he may have committed indiscretions; tens of thousands of people demonstrate in expressions of sympathy in Hamburg, Bonn, Berlin and Hanover; Govt releases documents indicating that Horst Ehmke, Min of Research and Tech, had been told of suspicions that Guillaume might be an agent and that he had ordered security services to investigate Guillaume; they turned up no evidence of espionage; Ehmke has asked not to be considered in formation of new Govt; text of Brandt's speech; illus (M)