April 9, 1982

Senator Bob Dole, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today denounced as a ''horror story'' a $100 million leasing arrangement for New York buses and commuter rail cars. The arrangement, between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metromedia, the broadcasting company, was worked out last December under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. The act allows transit agencies to to raise money be transferring, through the sale of their equipment, depreciation benefits that they, as government agencies, cannot take advantage of. The M.T.A., which pressed for passage of the act, has said that it can save hundreds of millions of dollars through leasing arrangements.

Britain's freeze of Argentine assets inside British territory has produced confusion and dismay in the international banking system, where America's freeze of Iranian assets in 1979 is still vividly remembered. The British decision, which followed Argentina's seizure of the Falkland Islands last week, involves banks around the world to a much greater extent than the Iranian case did. This is because Argentina has international debts of $32 billion, which is far more than the deposits frozen by the Bank of England. By comparison, Iran's debts were well below the $8 billion level of assets that were frozen by the United States after American hostages were seized at its embassy in Teheran.

International A peaceful end to the Falklands crisis was sought by Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr., in meetings with senior British leaders, but the Government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher continued to issue threats against Argentina. On his arrival at Heathrow Airport Mr. Haig conceded that ''the situation is very tense and very difficult'' and he said that he had no ''American-approved solutions in my kit bag.'' (Page A1, Column 6.) The danger of war is waning, according to the Argentine Foreign Minister, Nicanor Costa Mendez, who spoke about the Falkland crisis on his return home from Washington. Nevertheless, there were reports that Argentina continued to pour troops and equipment into the islands. (A1:5.)

The Brooklyn Democratic leader, Meade H. Esposito, yesterday called on Representative Frederick W. Richmond, the subject of a Federal investigation, to ''resign immediately for the good of the Democratic Party.'' Mr. Esposito, a sponsor of Mr. Richmond's transition from a wealthy businessman to a holder of a public office, , said he was ''very upset'' about a Federal grand jury inquiry into various facets of the Brooklyn Democratic Congressman's activities. He said that he had asked Mr. Richmond to resign at a luncheon Wednesday and that Mr. Richmond had responded that he wanted time to think about it. Mr. Esposito said the Congressman had acknowledged that several friends and associates had also urged him to resign. No Plan to Resign, Aide Says A spokesman for Mr. Richmond, Michael Kahan, said that Mr. Richmond ''absolutely does not intend to resign.'' He added that he did not think Mr. Esposito sought Mr. Richmond's resignation. ''It was not reported to me that way,'' he said. He added that he had spoken to Mr. Richmond, but that he was ''unavailable - he's out of town for the weekend.''

Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. met with senior British officials tonight in his search for a peaceful way out of the Falklands crisis, but the Government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher continued to issue threats against Argentina. When the talks broke up, Mr. Haig said that his ''very long and very detailed discussions'' had left him ''highly impressed by the firm determination of the British Government.'' He and his aides spent more than six hours with Mrs. Thatcher and her senior associates, exploring the issues affecting the controversy. Defense Minister John Nott, who on Wednesday night announced the imposition of a naval blockade on the Falklands, said explicitly today that British ships would sink any Argentine ship, civil or military, remaining within a 200-mile radius of the islands after 5:01 A.M. Monday, British summer time. That is 12:01 A.M. in the Falklands and 11:01 P.M. Sunday, New York time.