May 15, 1975

Thailand repts on May 15 that all US marines flown to L Taphao air base on May 14 have been withdrawn to aircraft carrier Coral Sea in internatl waters in Gulf of Thailand; had demanded withdrawal so as not to involve self in any action to recover Amer container ship Mayaguez that Cambodian gunboats seized on May 12; repts that US aircraft that attacked Cambodian gunboats off Tang Island did not come from bases in Thailand (S)

former Commerce Sec Maurice H Stans is fined $5,000 for 5 admitted misdemeanor violations of Fed campaign laws while head of Nixon re-election finance com; Fed Dist Court Judge John Lewis Smith Jr defends 'monetary penalty'; Stans says he is 'fully exonerated' of any improper activities in connection with Watergate scandal; claims he has 'vindicated' his plea to Sen Watergate com in '73 to give him back his 'good name'; Stans illus (L)

HR rejects as not germaine Repr Bella S Abzug amendment to refugee aid bill that would have extended similar refugee aid to Amers who fled US in opposition to Vietnam war (S)

Pres Ford, asserting that federally guaranteed loan to NYC would provide 'no real solution,' turns down city's plea for $1.5-billion in cash it says it needs for expenses through June 30; holds, in 'Dear Abe' lr read to Mayor Beame and Gov Carey as they attend Bklyn Dem dinner at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, that proper place for any requests for backing and guarantee is to NYS; lr was drafted by James M Cannon, Domestic Council dir, and deputy Richard L Dunham; Treas Sec William E Simon declares that Ford response to NY should be regarded as signal to city that it take 'extremely difficult pol actions it must take to put its fiscal and financial house in order'; contends layoffs of police and firemen must be considered, expense budget items have to be removed from capital budget and permanent long-range economies and reduction of short-term indebtedness has to be attained; holds city in past has demonstrated 'absence of fiscal responsibility'; notes that he, Ford and Ford's domestic advisers had considered 3 options: advancing Medicaid payments, seeking legis to permit Treas to buy city notes outright or to guarantee their purchase, and considering whether Fed Reserve Bd could assist state or municipality; Cannon illus (L)

White House says on May 14 that Pres Ford consulted with Cong leaders before ordering recapture of merchant ship Mayaguez and before ordering sinking earlier of Cambodian patrol boats; some leaders later insist that they were not consulted but merely informed of Pres decisions already taken; Sen Foreign Relations Com adopts strong resolution of support on evening of May 14 acknowledging Ford's right to order mil operations; Sen Robert C Byrd, after meeting at White House between Ford and bipartisan delegation of Cong leaders, repts that Pres was criticized by some for handling of consultation; says he shares concern that none of leaders participated in decision-making process; says that Ford will rept in writing to Cong at 6:15 AM on May 15 on mil operation, under War Powers Resolution of '73; Roderick Hills, counsel to Pres, says that Ford acted under const war powers to protect lives and property of Amers; White House press sec Ron Nessen insists that Ford consulted with Cong Dem and Repub leaders; Sen Mansfield says that he was not consulted but was notified after fact of Ford's intentions; Sens Eastland and Case also hold that they were only informed; support Ford action; others comment; Ford illus at White House with Speaker Albert and Mansfield (M)