News stories from Saturday February 7, 1970

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

American bombers ignored a Viet Cong cease-fire for Tet, the Lunar New Year, and unloaded up to 600 tons of bombs on suspected enemy troop concentrations and bases in South Vietnam, the American command said. An American and South Vietnamese cease-fire ended Friday. [New York Times] The new chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, Arthur Burns, pledged to do everything in his power to help this country prevent a recession in his testimony before the House Banking Committee. But he declined to give any clue as to when and by how much the board, which has wide influence over interest rates, would relax its extremely restrictive monetary policy. [New York Times] A subcommittee on foreign policy of the Democratic Policy Council has unanimously adopted a draft resolution asking withdrawal from Vietnam of all American troops, including noncombat troops, within 18 months. The council, a body of more than 50 party leaders, will vote on the proposed policy. [New York Times] Tooth decay can be virtually eliminated in this country, a study group of the National Institute of Dental Research believes. Three ideas of the task force, plastic tooth paint, chemicals to kill certain bacteria in the mouth and improved use of fluoride, are moving into advanced research. [New York Times] Residents of Globe, Ariz., have been reporting respiratory ailments, chest pains, swollen feet, miscarriages and internal bleeding since rangers working on a water irrigation program in the nearby Tonto National Forest started spraying the forest with a combination of chemical herbicides also used as defoliants in Vietnam. In addition, animals are born deformed and plants have shriveled. The rangers say the defoliants are not harmful, but a Department of Agriculture publication and other studies warn that the chemical should not be used near any populated area. [New York Times] Israel's request for American arms is under study and has not been approved yet, despite a report to the contrary, the State Department said. But other authoritative officials said recommendations on the request have been presented to Mr. Nixon. [New York Times] Secretary of State Rogers began the first tour of Africa by a Secretary of State with a stop in Rabat, Morocco. After Mr. Rogers' visits to 10 African nations in 15 days, President Nixon is expected to announce a new American policy, likely to stress modest increases of aid to African development. [New York Times] Civil rights demonstrators, mostly Catholic, sat down in the streets of Belfast and nine other towns in Northern Ireland for short periods in defiance of the government's new Public Order Act. Two men were arrested as the protests drew groups of Protestants in counter-demonstrations. [New York Times] Italy's cabinet resigned amid social unrest and political uncertainty. The action by President Mariano Rumor and his Christian Democratic minority government provoked the nation's 30th government crisis since World War II. His goal is to re-establish in new negotiations the coalition of Christian Democrats, Socialists, Democratic Socialists and Republicans that previously ruled Italy. [New York Times]