News stories from Sunday March 23, 1980
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- The Shah left Panama for Cairo on the eve of the presentation of a request by Iran's revolutionary government for his extradition by Panamanian authorities. He reportedly decided to accept President Anwar Sadat's long-standing invitation to settle in Egypt despite attempts by American officials, who went to Panama, to persuade him to remain there to avoid further complicating the hostage issue. They argued that the extradtion request would not be granted.
The Shah's departure from Panama spoiled any hopes that President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr and Foreign Minister Sadegh Ghotbzadeh might have had that the effort would lead to the release of the American captives in Teheran. The Shah's destination was "not important," a spokesman for the Iranian militants said. "Our demands have not changed. We want the extradition of the Shah and the return of his wealth from the United States."
[New York Times] - Washington's failure to persuade the Shah to remain in Panama was probably a big setback for the release in the near future of the hostages in Teheran, administration officials said. They were concerned that the Shah's departure for Cairo would probably be viewed in Iran as evidence of an American-backed plot to help the Shah avoid extradition.
Families of the hostages in Teheran warned President Carter last week that they would publicly break with him if he allowed the Shah to return to the United States, members of five of the families said. Families in the Washington area delivered a letter to the State Department asking that the administration cease making medical arrangements for the Shah.
[New York Times] - The Egyptian-Israel treaty anniversary was observed in a White House ceremony. President Carter, in an address to several hundred guests, said that domestic politics cannot be allowed to "subvert the spirit of Camp David" in the negotiations for self-rule for Palestinians. His address seemed designed at least in part to reassure the leaders of American Jewish organizations and the Israelis of his administration's continued support for Israel and opposition to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Israel's cabinet voted to establish two Jewish educational institutions in the occupied Arab city of Hebron despite intense international pressure against such a move. The vote was narrow -- 8 to 6.
[New York Times] - About $700 million in cutbacks of funds already appropriated by Congress for the current fiscal year is being considered by the administration as a prelude to larger reductions in fiscal 1981 aimed at balancing the federal budget. A White House official said that President Carter had approved the initial cutback plan. [New York Times]
- The antiballistic missile program would have to be revived, a senior Defense Department official said, if the Soviet Union decided to arm its existing rocket force with new nuclear warheads. He said that if there is no appproval of an arms pact, the Russians would be able in the next decade to equip their intercontinental missile force with as many as 20,000 multiple nuclear warheads. [New York Times]
- A million-dollar campaign to unseat five liberal Democratic Senators is being waged through advertisements on television, radio and in newspapers by a coalition of conservative groups. The targets of the drive, spearheaded by a group called the National Conservative Political Action Committee, are Birch Bayh, Frank Church, Alan Cranston, John Culver and George McGovern. [New York Times]
- Maine's impoverished Indians of the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes face economic decisions now that the proceeds of the recent $81.5 million out-of-court settlement of their suit for 12.5 million acres in Maine and $1 billion in damages is in reach. The settlement is receiving more official support in Maine than it had initially. [New York Times]
- Limited expansion of nuclear energy in Sweden was approved in a nonbinding national referendum. The vote gave the government a mandate to increase the country's number of nuclear reactors from 6 to 12. Proposals to halt the development of atomic energy after the number of reactors was increased were approved by 58.1 percent of the 6.3 million voters. [New York Times]
- A census undercount in New York City that could lead to a cut in federal revenue sharing funds and political representation is expected by critics of the census operation, who say the Census Bureau did not provide adequately for the city's special needs and did not sufficiently promote the census. [New York Times]