News stories from Sunday January 11, 1976

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

After a long fitful start, the campaign for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination has begun to take shape. Interviews with Democratic professional politicians in 12 states with early primaries or caucuses found that the possible candidates have been put into three categories: likely, conceivable, and unlikely. In the first group are Senator Henry Jackson, Senator Birch Bayh, former Gov. Jimmy Carter of Georgia and Senator Hubert Humphrey. [New York Times] A nearly completed inquiry into possible financial mismanagement within the Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly has focused on John Mohr, the bureau's retired administrative chief. Results of the inquiry were expected to be given to Justice Department lawyers in a few days. [New York Times] The Comptroller of the Currency, regulator of all federally chartered banks, criticized a report in the Washington Post that the First National City Bank and the Chase Manhattan Bank were on the comptroller's "problem" list because they had a relatively large volume of loans that might not he repaid. James E. Smith did not confirm or deny the banks' current status in his agency's examination reports. But he said "I emphatically and unequivocally reject" the implication that the banks "are considered problem banks by my office." He said both banks "continue to be among the soundest banking institutions in the world." [New York Times] The heads of state of the Organization of African Unity met in closed session in Addis Ababa, where they are considering the question of Angola, amid reports that the two rival governments of that country were seeking membership in the organization. There were also reports that 22 African countries that have recognized the government of Angola's Popular Movement were preparing a resolution calling on the O.A.U. to seat an Angolan representative. Twenty-two other countries that have recognized no faction in Angola were said to be preparing a resolution urging the formation of a government of national unity. Some countries were suggesting that the O.A.U. limit its action to condemning foreign intervention. [New York Times] Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Cuba's Deputy Prime Minister for foreign affairs, said that Cuba would continue to provide aid to the Popular Movement for the liberation of Angola regardless of any resolution by the Organization of African Unity calling for an end to foreign intervention in Angola's civil war. He insisted that Cuba's assistance conformed not only with the principles of "proletarian internationalism" but also that "it is legal in international law, because we were asked for help by an established government that has now been recognized by 40 states, 22 of them in Africa." [New York Times] Preparing for the debate on the Middle East starting today in the United Nations Security council, the United States has informed major Arab states that it will veto any resolution requiring the Palestine Liberation Organization's participation in the Geneva talks or setting new conditions for an overall settlement. Administration officials said that they had taken steps to insure that the Arab countries would not misunderstand the United States position. [New York Times]