November 8, 1986

The Soviet Union has issued new regulations on emigration that Soviet spokesmen say will ease the process of leaving the country. But Soviet citizens seeking emigration say the measures will do little to change existing practices. The regulations, which were published in a list of resolutions of the Soviet Government and which take effect Jan. 1, marked the first time Moscow had spelled out acceptable grounds for applying to emigrate, as well as grounds for denying the application. Although the decree appeared to make few substantive alterations in existing practices, both Western diplomats and people who have been denied permission to leave said it could herald a more flexible policy. Reunification of Relatives The decree, which has the power of law, declared that applications to leave the Soviet Union would be considered on the grounds of ''reunification with members of one's family, meetings with close relatives, marriage, visiting seriously ailing relatives, visiting the graves of close relatives, resolving inheritance issues and other valid reasons.''

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 - President Reagan approved a broad plan 18 months ago for secret contacts with Iran, Administration officials said today. They said the contacts were intended to improve relations with Iran, end Teheran's support for terrorism and revolution and help gain the release of the American hostages held in Lebanon by the Islamic Holy War group, a shadowy Shiite Moslem organization believed to have links to Iran. The plan did not mention supplying arms and spare parts to Iran, Administration officials said. But they said that shortly afterward, the White House accepted an Israeli offer to use its contacts in Iran to deliver American-made arms. Detailed Explanation Providing the most detailed explanation to date of the Reagan Administration's secret diplomacy with Iran, the officials said the United States undertook what one official called a ''two-track'' policy in the region.

Secretary of State George P. Shultz said today that he remained opposed to any negotiations with terrorists for the release of American hostages. Mr. Shultz made his comments on his Air Force jet returning to the United States from Paris. He said he had been ordered by the White House not to comment on reports that Robert C. McFarlane, the former national security adviser, had secretly negotiated with Iranian officials and helped arrange for arms to be supplied to Iran to secure the release, over a period of time, of three American hostages held in Lebanon. After saying many times that he would not comment, Mr. Shultz, expressing some exasperation, said: ''The White House is in charge of the executive branch, and they have issued a statement that all questions shall be answered by the White House. And that's why I say, 'Ask the White House,' and I have no comment to make myself.

Fears of a coup reached a crisis stage here today, and some sources said a move by a group of military officers had been narrowly averted, at least for the moment. Those involved in the events today declined for the most part to discuss them with reporters, but there were indications that intense maneuvering had occurred to block action by officers associated with Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. President Corazon C. Aquino said the military had been placed on full alert, although she said she was confident there would be no coup. The military reported that broadcast stations and public utilities had been placed under guard.

A police officer from the 77th Precinct in Brooklyn who had been indicted on charges of stealing and selling drugs was found shot to death in a Long Island motel yesterday afternoon, apparently a suicide, the police said. The officer, Brian F. O'Regan, 41 years old, had failed to surrender Thursday morning for arraignment with 12 other current or former officers from the precinct, who were charged after an investigation into thefts from drug dealers. The police had issued a bulletin for his arrest. The other 12 officers, who were charged with a wide variety of felonies and misdemeanors, all entered pleas of not guilty in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn when indictments were unsealed Thursday.