May 30, 1974

Sen J W Fulbright's defeat in Ark Dem primary by Gov D L Bumpers could shuffle next yr leadership of 2 of Sen's most important coms: Foreign Relations and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Sen J J Sparkman is in line to succeed Fulbright as chmn of Foreign Relations Com but because a Sen cannot hold chairmanship of more than 1 major com, Sparkman would have to relinquish his chairmanship of Banking Com if he chose to move to Foreign Relations Com; that, in turn, would put Sen W Proxmire in line to become chmn of Banking Com; Sparkman says he is keeping his options open and might wait until Sen reorganizes next Jan before deciding which chairmanship to take, assuming that Dems retain control of Sen; close associate of Sparkman says ‘odds are great’ that Sparkman will take Foreign Relations chairmanship; while observers were assessing Fulbright's defeat for its potential impact on foreign relations, a greater impact could come on domestic matters if Proxmire becomes Banking Com Chmn; Proxmire comments; if Sparkman takes Banking Com, next ranking Dems on com would be Sens M Mansfield and F Church; Mansfield comments; Sens J K Javits, H D Scott comment; illus of Fulbright and wife Betty; Sparkman por (L)

Albert E Jenner Jr, chief Repub counsel to HR Judiciary Com, says that com staff is prepared to present evidence next wk on Pres Nixon's relationship with ITT and, after that, on White House dealings with dairy indus groups; John M Doar, com special counsel, comments

Soviet Foreign Min Gromyko on May 29 flies home from Damascus as USSR urges that Syrian‐Israeli disengagement agreement on Golan hts be seen only as 1st step toward ‘all‐encompassing settlement’ in Middle East; in joint statement with Syrian Govt, Gromyko indicates USSR's approval of agreement and wins Syrian support of Soviet involvement in future stages of negotiations; Gromyko's mission in final phase of negotiations serves to demonstrate that in light of Sec Kissinger's personal diplomacy USSR is also an important factor in Middle East (M)

Ulster Workers Council, extremist Prot group that ordered indus shutdown in Ulster, calls off strike that brought prov's econ to standstill and toppled coalition govt; several hrs later, Brit Govt announces that form of direct rule is being imposed on prov; council decides to end strike without achieving promise from Brit Govt that new elections will be held after period of direct rule; spokesmen refuse to explain why they called off strike without such an assurance, but reliable source says group began receiving advice from local pol leaders as soon as Exec Council collapsed; Brit Prime Min Wilson holds emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss situation; later, Sec of State for Northern Ireland Merlyn Rees announces that provisional assembly is being suspended for 4 mos; says assembly will remain in existence but will not be able to exercise functions and legis will be enacted in Brit Parliament; council's decision appears to be leading quickly to resumption of electricity supplies, communications, transportation, sewage disposal and other essential services; Brit troops continue to occupy gasoline stations and oil storage depots at key points, but their withdrawal in next few days appears likely; shops and pubs begin to reopen and traffic in Belfast reappears; extremist Prot groups that supported strike hope that new elections will enable Protestants to regain some power won by Caths through formation of Exec; council says it wants to assure ‘Cath fellow‐countrymen that loyalist community has no intention of attacking them'; asks for release of 31 unidentified persons whom Brit forces have taken into custody and asks for urgent rev of law that enables govt to hold prisoners without trial; warns all employers that ‘recrimination, discrimination or victimization of workers’ will not be tolerated; Brian Faulkner, who resigned post of Chief Min, warns of public opinion backlash against strikers, although public support for strike was principal reason for coalition's collapse; Prot politicians are speculating that some sort of reaction might be forthcoming from IRA's Provisional wing; Cath extremists give no indication that retaliation against Prot groups is being contemplated; illus of Rev Ian Paisley and Prots celebrating fall of coalition govt (L)

NYS Legis special session approves, 91‐42 in Assembly and 36‐19 in Sen, new legis and Cong dist lines for Manhattan and Bklyn amid protests from white and black incumbents and vows of new ct challenges by opponents, including Sen Minority Leader Zaretzki; debate involves protest from Repub majority, which yielded reluctantly to Fed mandate it said was ill‐founded, from minority‐group reprs, who call new lines ‘gerrymander,’ and white incumbents whose dists will be dismembered; Assemblyman Peter G Mirto comments; friction in Dem ranks includes exch between Sens Joseph L Galiber and Sidney A Von Luther; Bklyn Sen Chester J Straub, Dem, says he holds Sen Majority Leader Anderson personally responsible for measure; Bklyn Sen William T Conklin, Repub, defends Anderson; Sen Carol Bellamy, Bklyn Dem, vows to be re‐elected in Nov by building support in new dist; illus of Assemblymen Woodrow Lewis and Harvey L Strelzin (M)