September 24, 1977

Carter Adm backs landing rights for 16-plane fleet of Concorde SST in 13 Amer cities, including NYC, unless they are barred by local auths through reasonable, non-discriminatory noise rules; Transportation Sec Adams outlines Adm proposals at Washington news conf; says only current fleet will be exempt from Fed noise regulations; says plane will be restricted to subsonic speeds over land, could not operate between 10PM and 7AM, and that future models will be forced to meet same noise requirements as subsonic planes; says Govt was sensitive to fact that 75% of all airline equipment in use is Amer-mfd and that health of aerospace indus depends on good relations and cooperation with foreign buyers; map depicts cities for which landing rights are requested; Adams illus (M)

negotiations for joint govt program among leftist parties fail, eliminating strong possibility that Communists would share power in '78; breakdown seen as substantial boon for Pres Giscard, who gained another advantage because he was able to announce Pres Carter's Nov visit; Louis Harris poll shows combined leftist strength at 52%, down 1 point from Aug, and shows Giscard's Repub Party ahead of Chirac's neo-Gaullists for 1st time, 21% to 20%; Marchais, Mitterrand and Fabre comment; illus (L)

HR, 359-4, votes to increase from 65 to 70 age at which employers may require workers to retire; in amendments to Age Discrimination in Employment Act, votes to eliminate mandatory retirement for almost all civilian workers in Fed Govt; supporters contend bill will uphold rights of older Amers but not have major impact on overall econ status of elderly; insist it will not have significant effect on pensions; Natl Assn of Mfrs and other opponents warn of possible adverse effects; staff officials say that in view of overwhelming vote, Sen is likely to pass similar bill without Pres Carter's endorsement (M)

Air Force says at least 15 women officers and 25 enlisted women will soon join launching crews on Titan 2 intercontinental ballistic missiles placed in silos in Ariz, Kansas and Ark; says announcement is further recognition by Air Force that women must have full acceptance and career opportunities in all fields: Asst Sec Antonia Handler Chayes hails move; recent rept on women in mil by Brookings Inst charging Air Force followed heavily restrictive policy toward women noted (M)

Arrival of E Ger poet Sarah Kirsch in W Berlin marks high point in growing wave of cultural migration from E Ger, in which noted writers, musicians and actors have been compelled to leave country after intense human rights conflicts (S)

farmers from West and Middle West charge Pres Carter has broken promise to back price supports at least equal to production costs; Natl Farmers Union pres Tony Dechant and Natl Farmers Orgn pres O L Staley comment (M)

Illus of re-opened Bowling Green Pk, NYC, and reconstructed subway station; pk, oldest in city, was established in 1733

Pres Carter to visit Brasilia on Nov 23 (S)

Univs fear that proposed legis ending mandatory retirement at age 65 will result in missing generation of young scholars and hurt affirmative action programs for women and minorities (M)

Illus of st scene, Taipei, after worst flooding in Taiwan in 7 yrs

Police open fire in Soweto when they are stoned by crowds of blacks waiting for buses to go to Biko funeral (S)

Lebanese UN delegate Ghassan Tueni says fighting seems to be ebbing near Israeli border and suggests that US officials intercede with Israel to cease its mil activity; notes possibility of raising issue in Security Council; Sarkis communications with Carter noted (S)