December 31, 1977

Coordinated Universal Time (successor to Greenwich Mean Time) to add second to last minute of hr preceeding 7 PM, Dec 31, '77, Eastern standard time, in order to keep worldwide clocks in phase with spin of earth; it is 6th yr in row at least 1 second has been added; experts continue to be unable to explain why earth spin varies; world timekeeper, Bureau Internationale de l'Heure, Paris, coordinates astronomical observations by comparative readings of atomic clocks using 'primary cesium standards'; accuracy of cesium's atomic oscillation rates noted (M)

Dec 31: Egyptian officials say Pres Carter and his aides have failed to grasp how fundamentally unacceptable is Begin's plan for ltd self-rule in West Bank and Gaza Strip; are particularly upset because Sadat thought he had recd commitment from Carter that US would press Begin to soften plan before Ismailia meeting (L)

Mrs Carter and Brzezinski meet with RC Ch primate Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski; Mrs Carter and Brzezinski comment; Pres Carter expresses appreciation for degree of freedom of worship in Poland; diplomat says US wants to encourage continuation of contacts that have already begun between 2 major focuses of power in Poland, ch and state; Movement for Defense of Human and Civil Rights, in protest over detention of 2 sons of movement's founder Ryszard Switon, stages 24-hr vigil at Ch of Holy Cross; underground newspaper Opinia ed attempts unsuccessfully to enter Carter's news conf; Mrs Carter, Brzezinski, Wyszynski illus (L)

Carter TV speech, Warsaw, Poland, is translated by Amer Embassy employee (S)

Pres Khieu Samphan, breaking diplomatic relations with Vietnam, charges that since Sept Vietnamese armed forces have been waging undeclared and premeditated war; charges foreigners are helping Vietnam in its aggression; charge is apparent reference toward USSR, which has experts and advisers in Vietnam; border fighting in Parrot's Beak section of Cambodia, which reached peak earlier in mo, recalled; Foreign Min demands that Vietnamese diplomats in Phnom Penh leave before Jan 7; accuses Vietnam of taking 'unfriendly attitude' as evidenced by withdrawal of Amb from Phnom Penh; announces suspension of air link between both countries; neither withdrawal of Vietnamese Amb nor existence of air link were previously known to outside (M)