March 11, 1975

Iraqi armor and infantry units have reptdly pushed Kurdish rebels out of several militarily important mountain areas in north since Govt offensive began there on Mar 7; this is reptd in Teheran on Mar 10 by supporters of Kurdish leader Gen Mustafa al-Barzani; there is no confirmation from Iranian officials that reptd Iraqi offensive has actually been going on; offensive began only hrs after it was announced in Algiers that Iran and Iraq signed agreement there to end border clashes between their forces and to settle their long-standing dispute over frontiers; announcement made no mention of Kurdish issue, but it was reptd that accord, which called for halt to subversive infiltration across border, also included Iranian agreement to stop supporting Kurds in Iraq in their efforts to achieve autonomy; 1 target of Iraqi air raids appears to have been Barzani's hq in Choman area; more than 100 people reptdly were killed; Iranian Foreign Min Abbas Ali Khalatbari and Iraqi Foreign Min Saadun Hamadi are to work out details of agreement with Algerian Foreign Min Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is mediating dispute; talks are expected to include plight of Kurdish refugees in Iran and problem of ethnic Iranians who were expelled from Iraq last yr; illus Barzani with some of his men in Iraq in '74; map (M)

Israeli leaders express alarm to Sec Kissinger about sudden reconcialiation between Iran and Iraq, which has been followed by what was described as Iranian acquiescence in full Iraqi mil campaign to destroy Kurdish rebellion; are apprehensive about Shah of Iran's promise to sell Israel all oil it needs if Israel gave up oilfields in Sinai; Iraq is one of leading radical Arab states (S)

Survey on cities' steady but uneven progress in implementing $1-billion public service employment program signed into law Dec 31 '74; notes US Labor Dept estimates indicate that nearly 200,000 people have been hired under program, which represents attempt to blunt high rate of unemployment that has idled about 7.5-million people; adds NY Times survey shows that implementation of program has been 50% to 90% effective; discusses projects being undertaken in Atlanta, Ga, NYC, Newark, NJ, Cleveland, Ohio, New Orleans, La, Portland, Ore, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Calif, and Phila, Pa; cites criticisms of program by local politicians; notes Pres Ford has called for $2-billion appropriation above present budget that in part would pay for extension of 310,000 jobs under program; cites Sen Jacob Javits' call for 1-million public service jobs and HR's quest for for $5.9-billion increase in jobs program and public works projects; notes that local leaders express hope that Cong will see fit to make wage scales under program more flexible; law calls for ceiling of $10,000 per job and maximum avg pay rate of $7,800 per yr in each local program; Priscilla Harris, 1 of about 400 jobless people put to work in Atlanta under program, comments; illus of Harris laying floor tile (L)

US Sen Hugh Scott, breaking with Ford Adm views, contends US should use pressure to bring about Cambodian transition Govt that can negotiate truce and safe treatment of refugees; Pres Ford's recent statements contending Cambodian settlement does not revolve around 1 individual recalled; White House press sec Ron Nessen reiterates Ford's position; Scott reptdly doubts Cong will approve additional mil aid for Cambodia; similar recommendations have come from Sens Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield; Mansfield notes exiled Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk continues to refuse to negotiate with Lon Nol Govt; differences in Scott, Humphrey and Mansfield proposals noted; comments by Reprs Pierre S du Pont, L H Fountain and Michael Harrington noted; White House press sec Ron Nessen says cablegrams from US Embassy in Phnom Penh support Pres Ford's position on matter; says that Ford's conclusion is that Cambodian Govt has 'possibly 50-50 chance of surviving' if aid is supplied quickly (M)

US State Dept reptdly turned down proposal by US Amb to Cambodia John Gunther Dean to make diplomatic contacts with Cambodian Communists in spring of '74 because it might have interfered with secret attempts by Sec of State Kissinger to start negotiations with former Cambodian leader Prince Norodom Sihanouk; Kissinger reptdly was seeking creation of Laotian-style govt in Cambodia with Sihanouk serving as head of Govt in which Communists, Khmer Rouge and members of present Govt headed by Pres Lon Nol would participate; effort to start negotiations was launched in great secrecy and was apparently discussed with Chinese Deputy Premier Teng Hsiao-ping during time Hsiao-ping was in NYC for UN session; efforts reptdly failed; Amer officials currently believe chances are very slim that any negotiations are possible; are uncertain whether Sihanouk can negotiate for Cambodian Communists (M)