U.S. warships rebuffed

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33418, 27 December 1973, Page 1

U.S. warships rebuffed

6V.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

WASHINGTON, December 26.

The Malagasy Republic, dependent upon Arab nations for its oil, has rebuffed the United Stales by abruptly cancelling a planned visit by American warships.

Officials of the island Republic—off Africa’s southeast coast —told the United States Embassy it did not

have enough fuel or berthing space at the port of Diego Suarez to accommodate destroyers from a task force operating in the Indian Ocean. But United States Defence Department sources said they believed the real reason was i political—that Malagasy officials feared to offend the Arabs.

A Libyan delegation was reported in the Malagasy Republic just before the cancellation move. I The sources said that French interests in the Malagasy Republic were willing to provide the necessary fuel and that berthing space was not needed by the two destroyers which had been; scheduled to anchor at Diego! Suarez. This was the first such re-: buff since carrier-led United! States warships entered the; Indian Ocean late in October.!

President Nixon today met! the Federal energy chief, William Simon, to discuss; new ways to deal with the energy shortage, apparently including petrol rationing. Mr Simon said he was considering proposals to force ! car pooling by closing service stations for two days a week 'instead of one, and setting ; up a random system for keeping every car off the road at .least one day a week. Mr Simon is said to favour la standby plan that would l allow the Government to set ;up all the machinery for ra[tioning and hold it readv in lease it became necessary. The Government is now pressing voluntary selfdenial, which includes a 10-gallon-a-week buying limit, lower driving speeds and other conservation measures.