September 29, 1974

Sen Foreign Relations Com makes public testimony indicating that Alexander M Haig Jr, while asst to then‐Narl Security Council (NSC) head Henry A Kissinger asked FBI to place under surveillance some of Govt officials who became targets of controversial wiretap program; Haig, who told com in July that he never viewed himself ‘as anything but an extension of Dr Kissinger,’ testified that in passing names of officials to FBI, he was told to ask ‘generally that they be surveilled'; Kissinger has maintained that he never initiated or recommended use of electronic surveillance as means of finding and stopping leaks of sensitive foreign policy information to news media; Kissinger has repeatedly described his role as one of submitting to FBI names of subordinates on NSC staff who fitted 3 prearranged criteria for possible sources of ‘leaks'; com agreed unanimously in Aug that Kissinger had not misled it during his confirmation hearings as State Sec about his participation in 21‐mo‐long search for leaks, an investigation for which former Pres Nixon has said he gave full authorization; transcript of closed hearings contains number of deletions that com aides say were requested by State Dept and FBI on natl security grounds; it does give picture of genesis and scope of wiretap program and of part in it played by Kissinger's office; Haig portrayed himself in his testimony as Kissinger's liaison with FBI during wiretap effort; said it was his distinct impression that in no instance did he receive instructions from Kissinger where he had not either recd or participated in decision that brought those instructions to him; Kissinger said he did not initiate program, did not recommend program, had nothing to do with its establishment but participated in program after it was established according to criteria that had been laid down in Pres's office; criteria noted; com concedes in its rept that there are inconsistencies between FBI documents relating to wiretap operation on 17 Govt officials and newsmen between May ‘69 and Feb ‘71 and testimony of Haig, Kissinger and others; concludes that Kissinger's role in program was essentially as he described it in testimony last yr; some inconsistencies noted; Haig por (L)

White House conf on inflation ends on Sept 28 with many speakers calling for some liberalization of credit policy by Fed Reserve System (S)

Ariz Sen Barry M Goldwater issues statement questioning whether trip by Sens Javits and Pell is approved by Pres Ford and Sec Kissinger; suspects Sen Foreign Relations Com has gone further toward detente with Communist Cuba than public has been told and feels that recognition of Cuba should be ignored as long as it is Communist controlled (S)

Kelly, Patrick J (Ptl): Nude, dismembered body of NYC Ptl Patrick J Kelly found in plastic bag on West 79 St, NYC; Kelly por (L)

Japanese farmer held hostage by Dominican terrorists escapes on Sept 28 and is taken to hosp; USIA dir Barbara A Hutchison, Venezuelan Consul Jesus Gregorio del Corral and others remain captives; terrorists seek $1‐million ransom to be paid by US Govt and release of 38 pol prisoners; threaten to murder hostages and blow up Venezuelan consulate if demands are not met; arrest of Dr Tlinio Natos Moquete, alleged bandit who assisted in $500,000 robbery of Royal Bank, apparently touched of kidnapping and demand of ransom; Venezuelan Govt reptdly agrees to pay ransom if Dominican Republic frees prisoners; leader is identified as Radames Mendez Vargas, who hijacked Venezuelan air‐liner in ‘68, was sentenced to 20‐yr prison term and released by Pres Joaquin Balaguer; negotiations with terrorists continue; illus of hostages and terrorists (M)