March 24, 1975

SAIGON, South Vietnam, Monday, March 24 — North Vietnamese offensives virtually engulfed the key northern province of Thua Thien, pressed toward Saigon's eastern and western flanks and engaged Government troops near the Cambodian border, the military command said today.

2d in series of articles on W Eur pol, econ and soc trends discusses new leadership in various countries and how leaders meet key problems: Pres Valery Giscard d'Estaing in France, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in W Ger, Premier Aldo Moro in Italy, Prime Min Harold Wilson in GB, Premier Olof Palme in Sweden, Premier Joop M den Uyl in Netherlands, Premier Leo Tindemans in Belgium, Premier Constantine Caramanlis in Greece, and Pres Tito in Yugoslavia; notes fluidity of pol situation in Denmark and resignation of Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit; key role of Communist parties in various countries discussed; illus of Portugal's Communist party leader Alvaro Cunhal and of Portuguese Foreign Min Mario Soares; illus of Tindemans, Schmidt, Giscard d'Estaing, Wilson, Moro and Palme (L)

Israelis from left and right unite on Mar 23 behind Premier Yitzhak Rabin Govt's decision to stand firm despite US pressure in negotiations with Egypt; applaud Govt's decision not to relinquish Gidi and Mitla passes and Abu Rudeis oilfields in Sinai for less than firm Egyptian commitment to nonbelligerency, although there is disappointment over breakdown of talks and fear about impact it may have on Israeli-US relations; Israeli newspapers call US pressure, which included "personal message from Pres Ford during final hrs of negotiations calling on Israel to make concessions necessary to reach new agreement or face 'new assessment' of Israeli-US relations, bitter and accusatory: Rabin confirms existence of Ford message, news conf; sources say note urged Israel to reach agreement but deny that it contained conditions, threats or ultimatum; Israeli officials seem afraid that Sec Kissinger and world opinion will blame Israel for breakdown in talks; Rabin says Israel offered Egypt 2 proposals: either sweeping withdrawal from passes and oilfields in exch for Egyptian commitment to non-belligerency or more limited withdrawal in return for less comprehensive commitment; says Egypt was willing to make few concessions but not any that amounted to 'beginnings of the peace-making process'; says Israel hopes talks can be resumed under circumstances that will protect Israel's security, says Israel is willing to participate in new session of Geneva peace conf; Israelis expect breakdown in talks to lead to new militancy on part of Egypt and other Arab states, diplomatic offensive by USSR and limited resumption of fighting on Syrian front (L)

illus of Pres Ford with Sec Kissinger at White House

Pope Paul illus carrying palm frond during observance commemg beginning of Holy Wk, St Peter's Sq, Rome