This Day In 1970's History: Sunday December 28, 1980
- Another baffling move was made in the maneuvers of Prime Minister Mohammed Rajai as the Iranian leader released the documented American reponses to Teheran's conditions for freeing the 52 Americans. While his purpose in making the documents public was not known, the Prime Minister earlier summoned local and foreign reporters to tell them of a proposal that the United State return the money that it could agree belonged to Iran and that the the hostages would remain captive until disputed claims had been settled through arbitration. [New York Times]
- The administration made public its proposals for the release of the hostages, presented to Iran over the last two months, after the Iranians broke an agreement to keep the exchanges secret. According to the American documents, the United States offered to return to Iran about $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets almost immediately and to cancel outstanding claims against Iran when an international claims commission is established. It also agreed to freeze the property of the late Shah's family and to help Iran's legal effort to seize it. [New York Times]
- Ronald Reagan again assailed Iran and said its demand for an immediate payment of billions of dollars of its frozen assets was "ransom" sought by "barbarians." This was the second time in five days that the President-elect attacked Iran over the hostage issue, and it seemed to indicate that he would not approve paying Iran for the hostages' freedom. [New York Times]
- Foreign fishing in American waters will be phased out faster under a bill signed last week by President Carter. Foreign fishing off the coasts of Washington and Oregon has threatened to put local fishermen out of business. The bill also authorizes $87 million in aid for the fishing industry, including restoration of Northwest salmon and steelhead runs.
Mexican-American fishing agreements are being terminated by Mexico. The decision, which is to be formally presented to the State Department tomorrow, may put many fishermen in the United States out of business. Mexico is attempting to build up a fishing fleet capable of competing with American, Japanese and Cuban fleets. [New York Times]
- The weather brewing in Arctic regions indicates that the United States will have a long and very cold winter when the Arctic cold air masses start to spread. The temperature climbed to a comparatively warm 40 degrees below zero in Yellowknife, in Canada's Northwest Territories, 4,000 miles from New York City, but it was cold enough to knock out electric power in a major community, and bring on a freeze of people and water pipes until power linemen came to the rescue. [New York Times]
|
