February 18, 1981

''Even in exceptional situations that may at times arise, one can never justify any violation of the fundamental dignity of the human person or of the basic rights that safeguard this dignity.'' - Pope John Paul II. (A1:1.)

President Reagan plans to ask Congress tomorrow for a broad array of budget cuts totaling $41.4 billion next year as part of a sweeping economic package that is to include the largest tax cut in history. However, Mr. Reagan is to call for spending cuts in the current fiscal year less than half as large as the $13 billion promised in his election campaign and he does not expect to show a budget surplus until the fiscal year 1984, a year later than he promised. Even then, the projected surplus would be only $500 million. Along the way, the Administration program would result in large budget deficits: $54.5 billion in the fiscal year 1981, as against the current projection of $55.2 billion; $45 billion in the fiscal year 1982, as against $27.5 billion now estimated, and $23 billion in the fiscal year 1983, the year the budget was to have been balanced.

Unesco meeting hears two draft resolutions on press A2 France evades U.S. request for support on El Salvador A3 Students seize six hostages at the University of Mexico A3 U.N. envoy resumes peace mission to Iraq and Iran A4 Around the World A5 Brunei, nearing independence, builds up its military A10 U.S. endorses French plan for post-Madrid arms parley A10 Canadian Parliament opens final debate on constitution A11 Government/Politics Senate unit hears of threats and payoffs in shipping industry A12 Study calls Koch anticrime proposals ''misguided'' B3 Court rules Bustop must surrender shelters to New York City B3 State Senate leader criticizes transportation department B3 Energy Reagan ends temperature restrictions on buildings A16 General Around the Nation A12 Cleanup begins in Louisville in wake of sewer explosion A12 Murderer to be first to get electric chair in Indiana since 1961 A12 Convicted murderer killed while holding hostage A14 Baltimore's Harborplace: a handsome and popular marketplace A18 Monument built upon 'junk' of U.S. bureaucrats A24 Potential buyers warned of purchasing repossessed soybeans A26 McGuire says officer was not within guidelines in shooting B2 The Region B2 Industry/Labor Labor calls for protection of industry against imports A16 The Living Section Food Flour: Which types to use for what C1 No-salt cooking with vegetables: Eggplant C1 Penny-pinchers and inflation- watchers tell how they save C1 Where puddings are last but not least C3 60-Minute Gourmet C3 Best Buys C4 Wine Talk C20 Living Metropolitan Diary C2 Kitchen Equipment C2 Personal Health C10 Kitchen gadgets at Cologne housewares show C22 Discoveries C24 New Yorkers, etc. C24 The word on wine, according to Reginald C24 Health/Science Child's baffling illness linked to overdose of vitamin A A15 Delays might postpone testing of space shuttle's engines A15 Arts/Entertainment Kool and the Gang's rise was long and determined C25 Theater Row threatened with collapse by lack of funds C25 ''Elephant Man'', ''Raging Bull'' each get 8 Oscar nominations C28 Equity Library Theater stages ''Death Takes a Holiday'' C28 ''Great Space Coaster,'' new children's TV program C31 NBC-TV last in ratings for second week in a row C31 Frank MacShane's ''The Life of John O'Hara'' is reviewed C32 Two films by Andrzej Wajda begin limited run C32 Cable programs on health planned by Bristol-Myers C32 Obituaries A. Doris Banks Henries, American educator in Liberia A29 Justice Bernard Moldow of New York State Supreme Court A29 An Adelphi College student slain by L.I. police officer is buried B2 Education/Welfare Board members agree on steps to ease Rosedale situation B3 Sports Maple Leafs beat Islanders, 8-5 B5 Yanks sign Bill Castro, former Brewers reliever, as free agent B5 Acadia, Class D yacht, wins Florida Triangle race B5 Leslie Allen emerges as top black tennis player B5 Madison Square Garden seeks tax relief from city B6 Stanley Floyd is concentrating on setting mark in 60-yard dash B7 Red Smith on Tommy Henrich and high-priced players B7 Features/Notes Notes on People A24 Woman in the News: Karen N. Gerard, new Deputy Mayor B1 About New York B3 Going Out Guide C27 News Analysis David K. Shipler assesses Mideast challenges facing Reagan A6 Joseph Lelyveld on the outcome of the fighting in Zimbabwe A9 Editorials/Letters/Op-Ed Editorials A30 A sacred but fat tuition cow Zimbabwe's still patriotic front The PX that wants a view Topics: long shots Letters A30 James Reston: how minority leader Byrd sees the future A31 Russell Baker: Reagan, the great communicator A31 George F. Kennan: a risky American equation A31 Craig Bond Hatfield: big oil isn't the foe A31

Karen N. Gerard, an economist who is a vice president of the Chase Manhattan Bank, was named by Mayor Koch yesterday to the long-vacant post of Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy and Development. The choice, which came rather abruptly after an eight-month search, was generally met with approval in financial circles. Mrs. Gerard has specialized in regional economic forecasting for Chase Manhattan and is familiar with the economy of New York City and the state. She has been on the Council of Economic Advisers working with the city's Office of Management and Budget and is a member of the city's Industrial and Commercial Incentive Board. That board grants tax abatements to commercial and industrial interests to encourage economic growth.

WHEN a 17th-century recipe instructed the American housewife to ''take three-quarters of a peck of fine flower (sic),'' there wasn't the variety of flours at hand that exists today. Supermarkets offer one array of brands, health-food stores another, while a number of millers handle mail orders. In addition, there are the newcomers of special bread flours - market researchers must have discovered a considerable amount of home bread-baking going on - by Pillsbury and Gold Medal. As a result, home bakers of 1981 may well be wondering what flour is all about. Which is best? Or, which is best for doing what: bread, pasta, pastry? Basic as these questions are, the answers are far from simple. Bread-Baking A flour with a high gluten content is desirable - gluten provides elasticity, holds in the gas produced by the fermenting yeast, and builds the structure of the bread.