February 7, 1975

Chinese news agency Hsinhua repts that epicenter of major earthquake that hit Manchuria this wk was in Liaoning Prov, 1 of China's most important indus dists; says that major relief effort is under way in Yingkow and Haicheng areas but does not mention nearby steel center of Anshan; dispatch duplicates 1 published by Hsinhua reptg on May 12 ‘74 major quake; map (L)

Information from US Embassy officials in Cambodia, Western diplomats and mil analysts indicate US Pres Ford's original request for $497‐million in mil aid for Cambodia may be more than Cambodian Govt needs for fiscal ‘75; analysts say serious questions are being raised whether Ford Adm is trying to establish buffer arms stock for next yr, when Cong is expected to provide even less mil aid than for current yr; analysis of mil aid requests, authorizations and allocations for fiscal ‘75 show wide discrepancy in figures provided by Adm officials, US Embassy and Cambodian Govt concerning mil needs; Ford's recent assertion that original $275‐million in aid had already been ‘largely expended’ before current Communist‐led offensive recalled; Embassy officials reptd in Nov ‘74 that Cambodian Govt officials had anticipated reduced aid and Pres Lon Nol was embarked on ammunition‐conservation program to make original amount last through current fiscal yr; 1 US Embassy official said, Jan 7, that US aid cut had not created critical situation; Amb John Gunther Dean has recently echoed Ford's statement that without supplemental funds Cambodian Army will run out of ammunition long before end of fiscal yr; Embassy says that discrepancy has developed from ‘confusion’ and conflicting views’ among embassy officials; says unexpected cost increases and intensified insurgent fighting have contributed to need for more mil aid; authoritative sources say that ammunition and transportation cost increases and usually intensified dry‐season fighting had been accounted for in original aid request; problem of accounting for arms transportation costs discussed; embassy officials say Ford will request only what was cut by Cong when aid bill was debated in Dec ‘74 (L)

Painting by Raphael entitled The Mute One, and 2 by Piera Delia Francesca, The Flagellation of Christ and Madonna of Senigallia, are stolen on Feb 6 from Ducal Palace in Urbino; gallery is considered 1 of Italy's best secured museums: Giovanni Spaldolini, min of cultural patrimony, links theft with ‘industry of blackmail’ that he says is threatening Italy's artistic and cultural heritage; art experts and police investigators rept that paintings are so famous that they are not likely to be saleable; Salvatore Accardo, govt's dir gen of antiques, says authorities believe burglary had been commissioned outside Italy; offical statistics show that 10,952 works of art were stolen in ‘74 in 572 criminal actions; in ‘73, 8,520 works were stolen in 385 thefts; Italy's Central Inst for Art Restoration appeals to thieves to take proper care of paintings; illus of works (M)

Pres Ford designates 1st wk in Mar as Save Your Vision Wk (S)

Damrosch Park: Article on FALN, Puerto Rican terrorist orgn; notes that last Aug 31, a time bomb exploded in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center; says blast was signal for start of new and deadly urban terror campaign by FALN and detectives and Fed agents say they are now convinced that group is responsible for at least 10 bombings in NY and Newark during last 5 mos (L)