September 1, 1984

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and 13 Southern Democratic chairmen held what they called a ''historic meeting'' here today to propose a political agenda for Walter F. Mondale's Presidential campaign in the South. At a news conference after the closed meeting, the state chairmen joined Mr. Jackson in urging the Mondale campaign to stress economic issues in the South rather than try to compete with President Reagan on such issues as patriotism and school prayer. They said this represented his best chance to win both black and white votes in the region. The meeting, which grew out of a telephone conference call last week between Mr. Jackson and the Southern Democratic chairmen, was as significant as any of the political decisions that came out of it, according to some of those who were there. ''I had a sense something very important was taking place in that room,'' said one participant.

The Civil Aeronautics Board today gave the nation's airlines an antitrust exemption to let them jointly discuss ways to reduce air traffic congestion and delays. Immediately after the 5-to-0 vote, the Department of Transportation announced that discussions among the airlines would begin Wednesday. Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole said she hoped the airlines would solve the congestion problem and thereby avert a need for the Federal regulation her department had proposed. The action by the Federal regulatory panel gave the airlines 45 days to develop their own plan for solving a situation that has angered millions of travelers who have experienced long delays because of overcrowded departure and arrival schedules, primarily at six major airports. Airline officials acknowledge scheduling more rush-hour flights than the airports can handle, saying they do so to meet competitive pressure for prime-time business.

The B-1 bomber that crashed Wednesday stalled while maneuvering to avoid an observation plane, according to Government officials. The officials, who said they heard the explanation today from military sources, said the F-111 observation plane went too close to the bomber, prompting the B-1's pilot to bank sharply to the right, which caused a sudden loss of lift. Air Force spokesmen at the Pentagon and at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where the crash occured, declined to discuss its cause pending an official investigation. The Air Force did confirm that the F-111 was filming the bomber's test of flight control at low speeds.

Reagan Administration officials said today that the government that emerges from the protracted interparty negotiations in Israel will probably be so divided on foreign policy that there will be little opportunity to revive President Reagan's Middle East peace initiative. The Administration officials said the division would be particularly true of the ''national unity'' government apparently agreed to in principle by Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir of the Likud bloc, now in power, and Shimon Peres, whose Labor Party won the most votes in last month's elections. The Reagan plan, which the President presented in a 1982 speech, called for Jordan to enter negotiations with Israel and local Palestinians on the future of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It also envisaged an eventual association between the West Bank and Jordan. The Likud Government rejected the American initiative, while Mr. Peres and his party welcomed it.

Nearly 100 public schools in New Jersey that have failed to complete the removal of asbestos during the summer will be unable to open next week, the State Education Commissioner said today. Asbestos, which was used to insulate pipes and in ceiling materials in public buildings, has been found to cause cancer and other sickness in people who inhale its fibers. The Commissioner, Dr. Saul Cooperman, said the delays could be a few days or a number of weeks. He advised local school boards facing long delays to find alternative buildings - churches or unused school buildings - in which to hold classes until the asbestos work is completed.