The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 1

means bearings mm ilT AM in Specialists in Reinforced Concrete Otilpt Suppliers of Reinforcement Manchester Wednesday April 5 1972 5P Lead hazard over grazing land to visit By Anthony Tucker, Science Correspondent organic and therefore particu- Ireland on tent at the time of sampling the earlv winter of 1971 range up to Jsb parts per million, three times the level normal in city roadside samples, and well above the level regarded as dangerous to grass-eating animals. The scientific report points LEAD CONTAMINATION ot pasture land, likely to be hazardous to grazing animals, has been found in an area surrounding an anti-knock compound factory near Northwich, Cheshire. Field research carried out by the botany department at Manchester University has shown that lead levels in mosses and grass close to the factory almost 2,000 parts per million are among the highest ever recorded in grass. Although there is a rapid fall-off away from the factory, levels in grass half a mile away are still two or three time's those normal for rural areas. The Alkali Inspectorate has fall-out from mishaps at the factory caused a certain amount of pollution occasionally.

The union would want to look at the university's findings, but he was sure that strict precautions had been taken to destroy all produce when fall-out occurred, and the farmers had been compensated. Describing the present pro-programme of inestigation into lead contamination, Mr El-don Griffiths. Under-Secretary, Department of the Environment, said in a written reply yesterday that 20 lead works were being monitored. The activities were being coordinated by the Central Environmental Pollution Unit. Measures of lead levels in the blood of children under school age livin? near the Stanton Lees lead works in Derbyshire would begin shortly.

out that lead levels in grasses Mr William Large, North-and mosses (mosses are rare with secretary of the National in this area because of the high Farmers' Union, said last nirjht way to Moscow larly dangerous. While the area of contamina tion is not large, and does not involve a human population, it is still significant for it reveals once again the inadequacy of present control procedures for h'gh' dangerous materials. that a deputation of farmers udU 1IICL lLlCi Lilt cc Ul luui years ago to discuss a numoer of complaints, but these had been dealt with and he had heard of none recently. The company had spent a lot of money on trying to put things right, but it was generally accepted in the area that been told, but no comment was available yesterday from Asso- ciated Octel at Ellesmere Port, the parent company. From PETER JENKINS, Washington, April 4 President Nixon is expected to stop in Ireland on his way to Moscow next month.

His plans remain secret, but according to White House sources, Ireland has been selected for rest and refuelling on the journey. If the President stops in Ireland, even for such an innocent purpose as sleep, there is bound to be comment to the effect that he is courting the Irish-American vote in election year. Irish republicans may also seek to interpret the visit as a token of American support for their demands for Irish unity. In fact the Nixon Administration has remained impartial on the Irish question, and although there have been demands that it speak out against British policy, the issue, has made little public impact outside the Irish communities in New and Boston. Direct Scanlon to step rule has muted criticisms of British policy.

British diplomats were surprised to hear that the President was planning to stop in Ireland, but the reaction was that he was perfectly entitled to do so. Russia stops ceremony for Solzhenitsyn FROM A CORRESPONDENT Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian novelist, received yet another setback today in his attempt to claim the 1970 Nobel literature prize. Dr Karl Ragnar Gierow, standing secretary of the Swedish Academy, was to travel to Moscow later this week to present the medallion and diploma at a private ceremony. But the Soviet Embassy said here today that his application for a visa had been turned down. No reason was given, although Swedish Government sources felt the decision was a reaction to an extensive interview with By KEITH Mr Hugh Scanlon.

Union of Workers, has dent of the Amalgamated Engineering offered to resign from his office five years early if will help to smooth the path towards a merger between his own union and the elec-j triciana' union. Mr Scanlon, aged 58. made his buggestion at a recent meeting between the two execotives v. ben merger talks were further discussed. If the merger did go ahead, the combined membership of the two would be almost two millions.

It would become the largest union in the country. laiger een than the Transport and General orkers' nion. Mr Scanlon was only recently re-elected president of the AUEW. which means that he could stay in the officv until he retires at the age of 6o. There is a great deal of dis-: cussion still to bo completed before an merger could bu brought about Politically, the unions are poles apart, thoimh there is a lot of industrial sense in such a merger.

Mr Scanlon is one of the most of left-wing leadeis on the TUC. while Mr Frank ILiiappie. uie electricians general secretary, who is also seeking the presidency of his own union, is a ngnt-winger, though of outspoken views. The difference in attitude between fhe two union leaders is reflected in their outlook on the Industrial Relations Act. Mr Scanlon's union was one of the first to deregister, while Mr Chappie's is still" making up its mind Mr Scanlon opposes the Act hook.

line, and sinker. Mr Recent controversies over lead contamination have tended to centre on smelting works and on lead paint, but little attention has been paid to pollution from factories manufacturing or handling the highly-poisonous lead alky) com pounds tetraethyl and tetra-methyl lead used as anti-knock agents in petrol Britain, a major exporter of these compounds, houses several potenti ally important centres contamination. The Manchester University work, now awaiting publication in scientific journals, is concerned primarily with the effect of heavy metals on field ecology. But it has revealed that pasture 400 yards from the factory con tained grasses whose lead con PETER OSNOS, Saigon, armoured and mfantrv units The US command "announced nine B-52 missions and 145 tactical air strikes in the Quang Tri area, plus naval gunfire support from five destroyers a few miles off the coast. The destrover strength, combined with the three carriers alreadv operating and the fourth on the way.

represent the most formidable naval armada the United States has' assembled off Vietnam since the regular bombing of the North was halted by President Johnson in November, 1968. Poor weather prevented the expected fullscale bombing of targets in North Vietnam today, but a LS military' source said the campaign was cocked and ready to go." The command reported another four protective reaction strikes against surface to air missiles sites in the North. American sources watching the developing situation from saigon ana ua iang expressea some concern last nignt aooiu enemy activity near the old this month it will mean that the land is sold at i fair price and our responsibility to ratepayers satisfied, people in need can get a home at a price they can afford, and the builder still makes his profit" Mr Kenneth MaeFarlane, sales director of Federated Homes, said the scheme was forward-thinking and shows a deep understanding of the problems of buying a home these days. It seems a splendid way to help people who want to buy a home and should be taken up by other local authorities and considered by the Government." sulphur dioxide burden of the dliJJUSUMCl iirtviy iu nv, highest at times of slow growth, and that the measurements are of total lead from unwashed samples. There is no indication of the nature of the lead compounds escaping from the factory, although these could well be April 4 imperial capital nearest big city Tn fighting of Hue, the to the Quan A full North Vietnamese I division, the 324B.

is operating i the eastern portion of the; Ashau jungle and jestcrday base camp Bastogne of the i South Vietnamese First Divi- sion IS miles from Hue was attacked by artillery. One i source said its defences were also lesieo oy grountl auacKS Hue was a prime target of the Communists in the Tet offensive ot 1968. and as the refugees stream into the city from Quang Tri (their total is now estimated at 15.000) fear is mounting that it may again be the focus of a major attack Casualties Another seven B-52 and ten tactical air strikes were flown in Kontum province, against an ever-increasing enemy force that had its first big contact with Government forces yes- smith Viptnam rlaimed or, nnt haitii. mostly by air strikes. Thus far, however, the central highlands, where the build-up has been described as bigger than along the demilitarised zone, has not developed into a second major front of the Communist offensive.

Washington Post In Washington the State Department today stressed the role of Soviet tanks and anti-aircraft missiles in the North Vietnamese offensive. A spokesman said the North Vietnamese were using such equipment on a much larger scale in the South than previously. He expressed no direct criticism of the Soviet Government Diplomatic observers noted that the Department has been going out of its way to avoid criticising the Soviet Union as President Nixon prepares for his visit to Moscow next month. Reuter. i I I I 1 i i iney Sairj Britain was on friendly relations with the Republic of Ireland, and had no cause to complain about Mr I Nixon's going there.

On his way I to China, Mr Nixon stopped in Guam, an American possession The President's visit tn Ireland would be private as it 1 was in 1970 when he stayed for three days on the way back from the Mediterranean. That was just before the mid-term congressional elections and was Growing support for White-law. Ulster mothers' holiday. Provisionals willing to talk, back page seen as a gesture towards the traditionally Democrat voters, F. Kennedy's pilgrimage to Ireland in 1963 had been a great emotional event for the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 1970 Mr Xixon stayed as the private guest of a rich Irish-American. Mr John Mul-cahy. He and Mrs Nixon dined with the Prime Minister, Mr Jack Lynch, and his wife at what was described as a social occasion. The rest of his time, amid elaborate security precautions, was spent in a fruitless search for his Irish ancestors. His great, great, great, great great grandfather.

Thomas Milhnus. is said to have lived in Timahoe. County Clare, until he set out for Pennsvhania around 1740 The Milhous family moved gradually west and finished in California, where Mr Nncon was born, the son of a small shopkeeper. Elaborate and expensive searching failed to dtsclnse a Milhous tomb in the Quaker cemetery near Timahoe Mrs Nixon's Irish connections are more recent. Her grandfather.

Patrick Ryan, was born in Ballinrobe. County Mayo, around 1S40 During his last visit to Ireland Mr jokingly said it was necessary for every successful American politician to prove an Irish ancestor But it is doubtful these das if the Irishness of the Ir sh vote remains significant However Mr Nixon leaves no voter unturned Out Diplomntrc Correspondent urnfei Before the President's Moscow visit begins on May 22 the Secretary of State, Mr Rodgers, will make a round of preliminary diplomatic consultations in European capitals This will include Reykjavik, Iceland, as well as London, Paris, Bonn, Rome. Brussels, and Luxembourg. Presumably this plan and its careful announcement some seven weeks in advance, is a reflection of the lessons learned by the Americans during the dollar crisis and after the announcement of Mr Nixon's trip to Peking. Several countries, especially Japan, felt offended and ignored by Washington on these two occasions.

ready down HARPER Chappie, who wa- also outspoken against the Act, does concede that it contains some good points Mr Chappie suggested a merger between the two unions last June. Since then both sides have met several times to discuss the matter The electricians have also been mentioned in a possible merger with the General and Municipal Workers' Union. but Mr Chappie wants to try and court the AUEW first. The AUEW is anxious to expand its membership. Last ear it had an income of 6.500,000, but spent 7,500,000.

A great deal of this went towards strike pay benefits. Though it has more than 14 millions worth of assets, a merger with the electricians would add considerably to its assets. Swoop on 'gangs' More police raids are expected soon after Scotland Yard operations in South-east nnrl Frist T.nnrinn parlv vpster- (av, when 18 men were held. xhev were being detained overnight at Citv Road police station London The 'rads are ajmed at men trying to step into the vacuum left by the disappearance of the Kray and Richardson gangs, Shotguns, rifles, revolvers, knhes, and coshes were found in searches of more than forty houses during the inquiries into assaults with firearms and other weapons. i' pi BAGSuko.75 Pol.jiler 'led tot and comfort 'Sitoncrr-p.

Ejsf quick dry. Din DCTV CX ONW 4.20 WITH CDC NYLON rnEEi INNER SHEET 95p i' bough! without sltOn R'vli 1n Li- m-i Simulated trushed on or.m -loo'ri on Tri oiher. Keeos otir baq ct- jrt Ojio.i's: PINK or BLUE. Personal Shoppers BRISTOL Fairfji street. off Broad raead.

CARDIFF 17 Workmj Street, GLASGOW Sauchienall Street Cfiarinf Cross, uic night Ttiursday 7p.m. Open aO day Tuesuay. LIVERPOOL 62-64 Wavertree Road, Liverpool 7. Closed Wednesday aftSSSOOO. MANCHESTER Piccadilly Flan.

NOTTINGHAM Maid Marian Way. WOLVERHAMPTON The Wulf rurTCtntn. LEEDS The Mernon Centre. Leeds. HULL 87-J9 Prospect Street.

LEICESTER Abbey Street. CKseiTimSti afternoon. SWANSEA 717 Hith Street. CteserJ Thursday afternoon. EDINBURGH 33 Cjjrtl Street 11 raotlnrr n.

uim.uj i and. DEPT. CI 5. P.O.BOX3A1' Refugees, homeless after the battle for Quang Tri province, hurry along Highway One with their possessions, heading for Hue city. Another picture, page 21 Sucker punches, page 11.

Hanoi forces stand up to air assault mi! ti): to Mr Solzhenitsyn published in the Guardian and American newspapers In the interview the 53-year-old novelist said that if the Russian authorities denied Dr Gierow's visa. the insignia remain in Stockholm for another ten to twenty years." The Soviet Embassy refused to comment on the reasons for withholding the visa but did say that the question could be discussed again later." Swedish Government sources remain hopeful. A Foreign Ministry official stated He'll get the award sooner or later" Dr Giernw himself said earlier today he did not know the reason for the Smiet authorities' decision Invitations The ceremony next Sunday was to have taken place in central Moscow Solzhemtsvn had sent invitations to the Soviet Minister of Culture. Yekaterina Furtseva. and other prominent figures in the Soviet cultural establishment, as well as to friends and domestic and foreign Journalists.

Swedish Foreign Ministry sources said today that if it proved impossible for Dr Giernw to hand over the Nobel insignia in person, a solution involving Swedish Government participation could not be ruled out. Observers here took this to mean that the Government might after all agree tn hand over the diploma and medal at the Swedish Emhassy in Moscow In the controversial Interview. Solzhenitsyn revealed that he was running out of money and could do with the 31.600 cash part of the This has been deposited In a foreign bank account said to be in Switzerland, at Solzhenit-syn's request He told his interviewers the Soviet authorities were obstructing his attempts transfer some if the money into the Soviet Union. The award ot the Nobel Prize to Solzhenitsyn in October 1970. led to a violent campaign against him in his own country.

Interview with Solzhenitsyn. page 13. BEDSPREADS RegularQualitySryleH.lOO colour-. I'mk, BIueaiulG-for. 3 1.99; 1 Bomb sent to student A PARCEL bomb sent to Mi David Swanson, presidentelect ot the students' union at Teesside Polytechnic, exploded as be opened it.

but he escaped injury Another bomb addressed to the president, Rosina Prior, was intercepted by the police and defused by experts. Police said the senders enclosed a message with the bomb, but thev did not disclose Its contents. Several people were helping witb inquiries. New hitch ANOTHER hitch in the proposed world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer of America and Boris Spassky of Russia: Fischer offered a compromise over the terms 'or the match last night, but the World Chess Federation said the organisers in Belgrade had refused to change their decision. Cyanide A RUSTING canister of cyanide has been found in a cave at Greenland Mills, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, and police have put up barricades and warning notices around it The town council was recommended last night to destroy the cyanide.

Pompeii find ARCHAEOLOGISTS working at Pompeii have discovered a well-preserved town house with its walls covered in frescoes. They say the house, which was on the city's Street of Abundance, is one of the most important to have been found on the site. Pay rise THE 36,000 Post Office clerical staff have been awarded 8 per cent pay rises, back-dated to January 1, plus a further 2 per cent to 3 per cent for productivity. This gives top grade clerical staff rises of nearly 4 a week. TV and 2 Art 8 X-words 19 21 Finance 14-16 Home 5-7.

17 Leaders 10 Letter 10 Overseas 2,4,13 20 21 Women 9 Classified 18 19 Theatre guide ..17 From United States air and naal power bombarded North Vietnamese forces below the demilitarized zone today in an effort to break Hanoi's tightening hold on Quang Tn province. The four-day North Vietnamese advance south from the zone has slowed but not stopped while the South Vietnamese hae jet to mount their promised counter-offensive. Under heavy North Victna-mes artillery fire, another South Vietnamese firebase was abandoned the thirteenth, but the first to be given up South-wes. of Quang Tri city, weakening the Government's defences on its western flank. As the Communists continue to broaden the sweep of their moements.

two other firebases in the vicinity were reported under attack. The principal South Vietnamese defensive line, thrown up north of the city of the Cua Viet river, 10 miles below the zone held firm again today, but there were oerionic unconfirmed reports of inroads by north Vietnamese SutffirPink. forcer not Blrc. I. 'jc.

Tangayjjic, D'p RtM- GoUi Grr.orWhiti'. 2 3 2.25 2.50; 4 4.4 3.75.. MATCHING DAY PILLOWCASES Reenter: Style H.120 Pir.k J. arrnt SOpci Super: Style H.172 Fin, torce: -7' Hi 'I Itnv (oJ I C-ft nurU) SLEEPING in LUXURIOUS QUILTED NVLON Brentford Centres for The follaawn three centres are open Irom 93 -bp m. Monday 10 baturojy.

Closed Frid-iY alternoan. BRENTFORD Great Wnt Road (A opposile Firestone. TOTTENHAM Lawrence Road, london IS. STRATFORD Londorr, l.ii. WJtlOil Soad.

oK Stratford Hith Street. Except where stated the following centres open from 9a.m. to 5.30p m. Monday to Saturday. NEWCASTLE AREA Shields Road.

Tclrtr, Gateshead. Closed riday alter noon. WRMlMGHAMThe Birmtnchara SttcppinC -Centre, above New Street Station. Also at EauB Hh 394-336 Coventry Rd tlartd Wednesday attemooo. 3arao arr Juuidise required icn li 100 down on 9,000 home BY OUR CORRESPONDENT A DEAL between Luton town council and developers will mean that families on the council waiting list can buy 9,000 homes for 100 down with 100 per cent mortgages at preferential rates, and per cent knocked off the purchase price.

The council estimates that the net result will be 9,000 homes available at repayment rates normally set for 6)00 houses. The idea was conceived after the council had offered 30 acres for development. Councillors were surprised at a 1,553,000 bid from from outside the town who were not really in need would move in to buy, so we spent a long time deciding what to do and have come up with this scheme, which we believe is unique and flaw-less," Councillor George Hick-inbottom, chairman, of the housing committee, said yesterday "There's a desperate need for more homes in Luton and we are sure the answer isn't just to build more council houses. If the scheme is approved at our council meeting later Federated Homes of Dorking and worried that loca families in need would be priced out of the market. Instead, the Council decided to offer 16.4 acres for 857,000 with the proviso that the first 200 homes be offered to the 2,700 people on the waiting list Even after concessions, the council is prepared to allow families In need to forgo mortgage repayments for at least three years, provided that they pay off the interest.

We feared that people fttyio nuraocr wncro raven. Pius Hire IIIMMiMWajniKii'a1 ana colour. Send CmsU PotAl Order Cheque (Please write unit. and remember to add I dost or post Vn A ALL. ITEMS COVERED BLOCK CAPITALS to aid deHvery.

BY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.