December 16, 1976

Spaniards vote overwhelmingly in favor of Govt program to hold free elections in ‘77 for parliament that will have power to rewrite laws of Franco period; with about 60% of ballots counted, vote is 952% in favor; First of Oct AntiFascist Resistance Groups reptdly gives Govt 48 hrs to release 15 leftwing and Basque pol prisoners before killing Antonio Maria de Oriol y Urquijo; King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are cheered by 300 people at polling place; Prime Min Adolfo Suarez comments; illus of Juan Carlos, Sofia and Franco‧s widow Dona Carmen Pollo (M)

Scientists attempting to drill through Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, fail when pressure of ice fills hole and locks drill assembly, thereby ending hopes of observing specialized creatures living beneath shelf in perpetual darkness (M)

GB sets new series of budget cuts and tax moves, in part to meet IMF conditions for $3.9‐billion loan; Chancellor of the Exchequer Healey cites need to save pound, speech to Parliament; says IMF managing dir H Johannes Witteveen approves econ strategy and will recommend approval of loan (M)

Arthur C Richenthal, lawyer representing owners of nearly $1‐billion in shortterm NYC notes, rejects proposal that noteholders be paid with longterm bonds if city cannot pay them in cash over next yr, news conf with Mayor Beame and other city and state officials, City Hall; explains that he could not approve note payment plan being discussed because it is contingent upon city‧s getting cash from loans by banks and munic pension funds; at same time, Richenthal‧s expressed willingness to accept payment for notes over period of yr is viewed as substantial concession to city‧s continuing difficulties in finding sources of cash to redeem notes; Richenthal illus (L)

Carter reptdly to announce Dec 16 apptmt of Repr Young to UN (S)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 — Lebanon has sent a special envoy to Washington to discuss future American and international economic assistance to help the country recover from a year and a half of civil war.

Saudi Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani reptdly tells OPEC oil mins that higher oil prices would endanger world econ recovery (S)

Dr Charles Friedgood found guilty, Mineola, of 2d degree murder in death of his wife Sophie; also found guilty of 2ddegree grand larceny in theft of his wife‧s jewels; Judge Richard C Delin sets Jan 12 for sentencing (M)

Soc and Rehabilitation Service natl Admr Robert Fulton says nationwide avg welfare client ineligibility has been reduced from 10.2% in ‘73 to 5.5% in ‘76; overpayment cases have been reduced from 22.8% to 13.9%; underpayment cases have been reduced from 9.1% to 5.2% (M)

Bolivia, with 5 yrs of pol stability under mil Govt, has achieved some econ growth and brought new optimism to people who are talking about business and investment opportunities, not pol; inflation is low by Latin Amer standards, at about 6%, but Bolivia is still among poorest nations in Latin Amer (M)

Rhodesian security chiefs rept black Meth min Rev Elisha Kuwana and wife were killed during clash between Govt forces and black nationalist guerrillas (S)

5 men have been shot to death in Italy in last 2 days in rising tide of pol violence from extreme left wing; 3 men, including 2 policemen, die in Milan gun battle on Dec 15; incident follows violence in Rome on Dec 14 in which policeman and gunman were killed during attempt on life of Alfonso Noce, sr official of Rome‧s antiterrorist squad; incidents underscore resurgence of politically motivated attacks, mostly by leftwing urban guerrillas; Pres Leone discusses incidents with Interior Min Cossiga; asks public‧s cooperation to prevent violence; illus of violence on Rome st (L)