June 9, 1979

Patriotic Front co-leader Robert Mugabe says that any lifting of economic sanction against Zimbabwe Rhodesia by US and Britain could prolong war, damage Western standing throughout black Africa and prevent harmonious relations with US and Britain if fully black-controlled government comes to power in Salisbury, int, Maputo, Mozambique; regards question of punitive economic measures as test of faith for 2 Western countries; charges that ending economic embargo would amount to recognition of black-led Govt of Bishop Muzorewa; expresses hope that agreement between 2 sectors of Patriotic Front would allow forces to operate more closely in field; says he is willing to attend conference on Zimbabwe Rhodesia called by Britain, provided it is not aimed at simply bringing guerrilla leaders into present Govt; Mugabe por (M)

US Labor Dept, after months of negotiations, issues regulations that would let local governments avoid dismissing hundreds of thousands of workers from their federally financed public-service jobs next Oct 1 and instead phase them out over year's time; ruling would affect 14,000 people in NYC who were scheduled to be laid off in next few months because of recent 18-month limitation on length of service under Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (S)

Heating oil companies in NY area are raising monthly bills for budget-plant customers by 30-60% to reflect anticipated heating oil price of 80c to 86c a gal next winter; comments by Burt Eisenbad (United Oil Co), Donald Jaffe (Public Fuel Service Co) and representative of Meehan Oil noted; illus of Sen Jacob Javits at meeting in Mineola, LI, with representatives of Energy Department and major oil companies (M)

a major new oilfield may have been discovered in Gulf of Mexico off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where exploratory well blew out on Juno 3, releasing oil into sea at rate of 30,000 to 45,000 bbls a day; serious environmental damage feared; Pemex says slick has been controlled by recovery vessels; gas released from well is burning, and $22 million drilling rig is destroyed; no injuries reported; map (M)

Article on Robert Brinkley Smithers, who in '71 gave estimated $10 million to Roosevelt Hospital and who currently refuses to pay 2d $5-million installment in dispute over degree of influence he will have over Smithers Alcoholism Treatment and Training Center; National Council on Alcoholism president Dr R Keith Simpson, center's chief Dr LeClaire Bissell and hospital executive director Alexander Williams comment; Smithers por (L)