February 21, 1977

Article on econ revival of eastern Nigeria 7 yrs after defeat of Biafra in Nigerian civil war; pol mood seen one of reconciliation; Dr Pius Okigbo, former Biafra official, comments; map; illus (L)

Ints find NYC policemen's morale suffering after almost 2 yrs of trying to cope with budget and personnel cuts; force is also beset by internal dissension; fear that lower morale may lead to police corruption noted (M)

Govs of 11 midwestern states and aides from 7 others urge immediate Fed action to speed disaster drought payments to farmers and ranchers (S)

ERDA tests 6 windmills with blades ranging from 12 to 30 ft at Rocky Flats, Colo, test center; will supply performance and reliability data to private indus for consideration in mass production of high-quality, low-priced devices for use by rural communities, ranches and farms; goal is to generate 1% of US power needs, or 100-billion kw hrs of elec a yr, by end of century; project dir Dr Louis V Divone comments; illus (M)

NYC Deputy School Chancellor Bernard R Gifford may accept position with foundation as research scholar (S)

Feb 21: Sec Vance, after receiving support for his mediation efforts from Saudi Arabia, arrives in Damascus to learn that Assad doubts quick progress can be made unless US presses Israel to make major concessions; Syrian statement says Vance invited Assad to Washington, but is noncommittal on response; reiterates Syrian position that Israel must withdraw from all occupied territory and recognize Palestinian rights and end to state of war; Vance and Assad also discuss procedural problems of reconvening Geneva conf, given Israeli refusal to attend if PLO is there; Crown Prince Fahd told Vance that Saudis believe Arabs would be flexible and take reasonable positions at Geneva; Saudi Foreign Min Prince Saud says his Govt is optimistic about future because of Carter Adm's interest in Middle East (M)

Carter approves defense budget $2.75-billion smaller than one proposed by Ford, signalling restraint to Moscow and trying to spur arms limitation talks; changes include stretching out purchases of B-1 bomber, slowing down development of MX mobile missile and halting production of Minuteman 3 missiles (M)

NYC Met area is pelted with freakish storm, 8th of season, and temps hovering at freezing level on Feb 20, ushering in windy and cold weather for Washington's Birthday weekend; series of auto accidents reptd; Sanitation Dept calls in 700 men on Sun and holiday overtime, and puts 125 salt-spreaders to work on parkways; illus (L)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI)—President Carter today endorsed the opinion of his chief delegate to the United Nations that the deaths of Archbishop Luwum and the two Cabinet ministers were assassinations. A message from the President was read by the Episcopal Bishop, John Walker, at a memorial service at Washington Cathedral.

Pres Carter backs US UN Amb Andrew Young opinion that Abp Luwum and Mins Oryema and Oboth-Ofumbi were assassinated by Amin regime (S)

Question of Quebec separatism seen dominant subject of upcoming talks between Trudeau and Pres Carter

article compares Vance's Middle East diplomatic style with that of former Sec Kissinger (L)