April 10, 1982

Senior Administration officials said today that there had been new Israeli military movements near the Lebanese border over the last 72 hours, causing grave American concern about a possible Israeli assault into southern Lebanon. The State Department, in response to inquiries about an Israeli military buildup, said through a spokesman that it was aware of the reported movements and of ''an increase in tension in the last few days.'' Says Cease-Fire Was Violated ''Once again we renew our appeal to all of those involved or with influence on those involved to show the utmost restraint,'' the spokesman, Alan Romberg, said. ''This is a time for maximum caution. We, for our part, through our continuing contacts with a number of governments, are working energetically to encourage an end to all actions that contribute to tension and violence.''

Blue-collar workers at the General Motors Corporation have narrowly approved a new labor contract that includes wage and benefit concessions to management. The final vote was 114,468 in favor and 105,090 opposed, only a 52 percent majority of victory. A similar contract at the Ford Motor Company was approved by almost 3 to 1 in February. Douglas A. Fraser, president of the United Automobile Workers, said today, ''The closeness of the vote makes it clear this was a very difficult and painful step for our U.A.W-G.M. members, yet one taken in an attempt to address our problems in these very troubled economic times.'' Union's Biggest Concessions The new contract represents the first time General Motors workers have agreed to open an existing labor agreement at the company's request, and the economic concessions granted were the largest ever made to the company. Both General Motors and Ford have laid off thousands of union workers because of seriously depressed automobile sales.

British officials said today that time might be running out for a peaceful settlement of the dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. The officials said that only Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. had a chance of persuading Argentina to withdraw its troops from the Falklands so that negotiations could begin before the British Navy imposes a blockade in the waters surrounding the islands. Effective 12:01 A.M. Monday, Falklands time, Britain has threatened to sink any Argentine ship found within 200 miles of the islands. Haig Flies to Argentina Mr. Haig left here early today on the long flight to Buenos Aires. On his arrival there, he said the Reagan Administration's improved ties with Argentina were ''a good basis'' on which to resolve the crisis. Earlier, more Argentine troops were reported flown to the Falklands, and a rally to demonstrate Argentina's national unity was scheduled for Saturday. (Page 6.)

The Producer Price Index for March fell onetenth of 1 percent from the previous month, the first time in more than six years that this broad inflation measure has declined for two consecutive months, the Labor Department reported today. The index also declined by one-tenth of 1 percent in February. Energy prices fell in March even more than in January and February while food prices, somewhat surprisingly, reversed course and turned down. The figures were seen by economists as more evidence of the progress made against inflation, though they cautioned that much of the gain reflected the persistent recession that many think has already touched bottom.

In the 1970's, the decade of Houston's most prodigious growth, nearly 700,000 workers joined the labor force here. Most of them did not belong to unions and still do not. Now the A.F.L.-C.I.O., responding to what it sees as its premier opportunity of the 1980's, is trying to add half a million or more new members to union rolls here in what appears to be the labor movement's most ambitious organizing effort in at least 20 years. If the campaign succeeds, labor will have invaded the historically nonunion South as never before, at a time when the union movement nationally has been faltering. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is committing $1 million a year and 20 full-time organizers to the effort, which it says may last 20 years.