News stories from Sunday June 1, 1980

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

Ten Americans flew to Teheran, ignoring warnings from the Justice Department, flew to Teheran to participate in a conference on Iranian grievances against the United States. In a statement, the group, which included former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, said they were "convinced" that their participation was "an important step in alleviating the current atmosphere of confrontation" between the two countries. [New York Times] Senator Kennedy refused to accept President Carter's olive branch, saying that he did not think the two of them should get together after tomorrow's primaries to try to work out the platform for the Democratic National Convention. He spurned Mr. Carter's offer on Saturday to "make concessions in every direction" on the platform to promote party unity. Mr. Kennedy said "I expect to be the nominee" despite Mr. Carter's strong lead in convention delegates. [New York Times] Cuban refugees rioted in the Fort Chaffee relocation center in Arkansas over delays in their resettlement. Police and soldiers were pelted with with stones after about 200 Cubans burst out the front gate. A dozen law enforcement officers, five civilians and four refugees were injured, authorities said. The rioters retreated when troopers used tear gas and fired shots. [New York Times] The Vernon Jordan inquiry is stymied despite intensive probing by the police in Fort Wayne, Ind., and 20 F.B.I. agents who are seeking the assailant who shot the president of the National Urban League last Thursday. [New York Times] Violent storms swept the Middle West and spawned more than 20 tornadoes that knocked down power lines, uprooted crops and blew roofs off buildings. At least eight persons were injured, three seriously, when a tornadoes struck Croton, Ohio, and Tuscola, Illinois, the authorities said. [New York Times] Reggie Jackson's alleged assailant, who reportedly shot at the ballplayer but missed in a traffic argument early Sunday on East 83rd Street, has been charged with attempted murder. The suspect was identified as Angel Viera. Mr. Jackson, dismayed by the publicity the shooting aroused, suggested that he may seek to have the charge against Mr. Viera dropped. [New York Times] France was chided by Pope John Paul for its waning religious faith at an outdoor mass at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, attended by 500,000 people. The Pope made it clear in recent days that he was concerned about the future of the Church in France. Later at a meeting with French bishops, the Pope strongly criticized Catholic dissidents who, he said, have created a "scandal" in the church. [New York Times] Black nationalist guerrillas attacked three strategic fuel installations in South Africa, touching off explosions at seven storage tanks and setting fires that could be seen nearly 50 miles away. The attacks were the most serious in more than 20 years of sabotage and violence by guerrillas working to overthrow South Africa's white minority government. [New York Times] Menachem Begin's dual role of Prime Minister and Defense Minister while a successor to the former Defense Minister, Ezer Weizman, is found, was unanimously sanctioned by Israel's Cabinet, averting a government showdown. Mr. Begin's proposal that Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir become Defense Minister was rejected by the Democratic Movement, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Yigael Yadin. Other factions in the governing coalition want a part in choosing a defense minister. [New York Times] Doubts about West Germany's ability to pay its share of the cost of of the European Econommic Community's compromise budget reached Friday were expressed by the West German Finance Minister. Hans Matthofer said he will not support the agreement unless his colleagues in the cabinet can suggest ways for West Germany to pay its share, which is expected to amount to $1.4 billion. [New York Times]