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)