News stories from Saturday June 1, 1974
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Arab oil ministers, meeting in Cairo, discussed further elimination of oil production restrictions and sales embargoes imposed after the October war, but they postponed decisions until tomorrow, when the Syrian representative is expected to arrive. Their discussions were mainly concerned with whether to end the embargo against the Netherlands and Denmark, which some Arab countries felt had withheld clear support for full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab lands. The end of the embargo against the United States, which was lifted March 18, was not in question since Secretary of State Kissinger succeeded in mediating the Syrian-Israeli agreement. [New York Times]
- Vice President Ford found himself enmeshed in intraparty acrimony in New Hampshire, where he had gone to attend a Republican fundraising reception. The state's largest newspaper denounced him as "a jerk" and berated him for "treacherous" lack of loyalty to President Nixon. [New York Times]
- Administration officials said that the Attorney General's formal list of subversive organizations would be abolished by President Nixon. The list has been dormant for years, but in the 1950's it was the scourge of the liberals and civil libertarians, since persons who belonged to organizations on the list in many instances lost jobs or were otherwise blacklisted. Its abolition "is more important symbolically than in fact," an official said. "Even though the list is absolutely worthless, it has a ring to it of enemies of the government." [New York Times]
- Drug use among Vietnam veterans appears to be far more complex and serious than has been indicated publicly by some of the highest Pentagon and other government authorities concerned with the issue. This became apparent in interviews with many veterans who used drugs in Vietnam and with many drug treatment experts and government officials, supported by evidence gathered by the government itself. [New York Times]
- People are moving into condominium residential developments at such a rapid rate that federal officials expect half the population to live in them within 20 years. The purchase of a condominium dwelling is regulated, like real estate transactions generally, under state law, but it appears there are virtually no consumer protection laws for buyers who find fault with their purchase, in shoddy construction, for example, after the contract has been signed. The switch to condominiums is bringing fundamental changes to American housing, and is creating special problems. [New York Times]
- For the first time in 53 years, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, representing 110,000 workers, called an industry-wide strike. About 40,000 of the union members are employed in the New York area. The union is seeking a sizable increase in the present average wage of $3.50 an hour, and a cost-of-living escalator clause in a new contract. The strike affects about 750 manufacturers of men's and boys' clothing. [New York Times]
- Israel and Syria carried out the second stage of their troop separation agreement with the exchange of wounded prisoners of war. Red Cross aircraft took off simultaneously from Tel Aviv and Damascus, carrying 12 Israelis home from Syria and 25 Syrians released from prison camps in Israel. One Moroccan, who fought with the Syrians, was also released. [New York Times]
- President Nixon and Secretary of State Kissinger conferred with Secretary General Waldheim at the White House on the role of the United Nations peace-keeping force on the Golan Heights following the signing of an agreement on the separation of Syrian and Israeli forces in the area. Mr. Waldheim was expected to leave tonight on a tour of the Middle East. [New York Times]
- At least 55 people were killed in an explosion in a chemical plant in a small English village near Scunthorpe, in Lincolnshire, 180 miles north of London. The blast occurred at the Nypro plant in Flixborough, which manufactured raw material used in nylon cloth products. Flixborough was shattered, and its inhabitants and those of two neighboring villages were evacuated as toxic fumes escaped from the plant. [New York Times]