September 26, 1974

US Defense Sec Schlesinger, commenting on Ford's and Kissinger's warnings of dire internatl consequences of high oil prices, says US is not contemplating mil action against oilproducing countries (M)

Harvard scientists Drs Michael B McElroy and Steven C Wofsy calculate that gases released by aerosol cans already have accumulated sufficiently in upper atmosphere to begin depleting ozone that protects earth from lethal ultraviolet radiation; finding, which follows recent discovery that aerosol propellants are highly effective in promoting ozone breakdown, seen posing new and ominous threat to stability of ozone layer that lies primarily between 10 and 30 mi aloft; scientists express fear that sufficient depletion of ozone layer may result in widespread skin cancer and other effects, noting also that ultraviolet absorption by ozone contributes substantially to upper air heating, radical reduction of which could alter climates; McElroy and Wofsy theorize that ozone will be depleted by at least 5% by 1990 even if dispersal of aerosol gases, known as Freon, is halted; findings and similar studies by other scientists discussed; similar effect on ozone layer by nuclear explosions and highflying supersonic jetliners noted (L)

memories of renewed war launched by Arabs in Oct ‘73 on Yom Kippur dominate Israeli observances of holiday this yr (M)

US Dist Judge J Robert Elliott overturns ‘68 murder conviction of former Army Lt William L Calley Jr and orders him released ‘forthwith’ from incarceration at Fort Leavenworth, Kan; cites 3 major defects in Calley's prosecution under mil law; Elliott and Calley pors; Army Dept has recommended to Justice Dept that decision be appealed, stating Calley will not be released pending disposition of appeal (L)

White House press sec Ron Nessen says he has no comment about repts that L William Seidman will become Pres Ford's econ counselor; has no comment on repts that Treas Sec W E Simon will become Ford Adm's econ spokesman (S)

N A Rockefeller refuses to commit himself on how he would apply doctrine of exec privilege should he succeed to Presidency, testimony before Sen Rules Com, concluding 2 1/2 days of hearings on his nomination to be Vice Pres; throughout hearings, com members have commented on 2 topics not directly related to their proceedings: failure of major TV networks to carry hearings live and anticipated failure of HR Judiciary Com to complete its hearings on Rockefeller before Nov 5 elections (L)

The National Gallery of Art in Washington has acquired one of the extremely rare paintings of the 17thcentury French artist Georges de La Tom The gallery is known to consider the painting. its most important acquisruvit since it bought a portrait. by Leonardo da Vinci in 1967 from Prince Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein at price of $5million to $6million.

The Morgan Guaranty Trust Company and the Chase Manhattan Bank announced yesterday that they were reducing the prime rate — the interest rates they charge on loans to the most creditworthy corporations—to 11¾ per cent from 12 per cent. Details on Page 39.

Dr John C Lungren says former Pres Nixon has blood clot in his right lung; calls this ‘potentially dangerous situation’ but not critical, news conf; says there is good chance of recovery and that he expects Nixon to remain at Memorial Hospital Medical Center of Long Beach, Calif, perhaps until end of next wk; White House physician Dr William Lukash says he told Pres Ford about Nixon's condition; Lungren says Nixon's mood is ‘remarkable’ considering situation; says Nixon and his family approved disclosures about his health; medical treatment Nixon is receiving described; Lungren says lung clot will not preclude, although it will slow down, schedule for exhaustive tests that are planned to determine root cause of Nixon's phlebitis; says he has no evidence that Nixon has developed a cancer; says he advised Nixon to come to hsopital twice since he resigned on Aug 9; says Nixon initially rejected anticoagulant therapy to prevent development of pulmonary embolus; says that as a dangerous compromise, he treated Nixon with antiinflammatory drug; Lungren por; diagram of how clot is believed to have traveled from Nixon's left leg to right lung; illus of nuclear technician Cornell Rylaarsdam with radioisotope camera used to do lung scan on Nixon (L)

French Cabinet, in effort to limit fuel consumption, orders temperatures in homes and public bldgs kept no higher than 68 degrees; does not indicate how order will be enforced (S)

Leaders of HRSen conf say WilliamsMinish mass transit legis will never pass in current session of Cong; propose watereddown version of stopgap legis that would not save NYC's 35c fare; say $11million, 6yr mass transit bill enacted in Aug by HR will not be reptd out of Sen com because there is no time to act before adjournment; NYC Mayor Beame, NYS Gov Wilson and Repr Hugh L Carey are among dozens of mayors, legislators and labor officials who attend HRSen conf hearing on transit legis; Beame arranges White House masstransit meeting with Pres Ford on Oct 1, to be attended by several bigcity Mayors and labor and business leaders, including Henry Ford 2d; new version of MinishWilliams bill decreases financing to $600million, from $800million; $200million would be spent in fiscal ‘75 and remainder in ‘76; NYC would receive $30million in ‘75 and $60million in ‘76; NYS would receive $102million, with $30million for NJ and $9million for Conn; Urban Mass Transportation Admr Frank C Herringer supports new bill; Reprs Fortney H (Pete) Stark and Bella S Abzug oppose it; illus of Beame and San Francisco Mayor Joseph L Alioto at transportation hearing (L)

$50million, 20story hotel will be built as final component of World Trade Center, NYC, by Corland Corp, NYC realty firm headed by Texas financier Clint W Murchison; Dr William J Ronan, chmn of Port Auth, says NYC will receive over $500,000 per yr as property taxes when hotel is completed; Gov Wilson expresses support of project, noting that it will provide 700 construction jobs; spokesman for Gov Byrne notes that Gov is pleased that hotel is being built without financial risk to Port Auth; this is 1st hotel to be built in Lower Manhattan since 1900s; illus of model of hotel (L)