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NEWS SUMMARY March 9, 1973 (Thursday nets, wires) The Major events of the day: All nets had film reports (ABC led) on largest WPI rise in 22 years. Calling it the "biggest in a generation¹ HK Smith said there's "little hope for leveling off or drop in inflation in near future. 11 NBC said end of inflation is "nowhere in sight" w/out "more drastic action" by RN or Hill. CBS said prices aren't only rising; the rise is accelerating. Noted that BLS said last 3 months have seen food up at 56% annual rate. Stein on ABC w/note by others that he declined to rule out renewed controls. Butz on ABC/CBS film pointing to problems w/controls on food and to the relatively low amount of food dollar going to farmer while consumer pays less % of income on food. Severeid pointed to risks of economic problems ruining RN policies at home and abroad. All nets w/film reports (CBS/NBC led) w/terrorism in London thought related to N. Ireland referendum. "The Terror of N. Ireland Spread Across the Irish Sea, 11 led Cronkite. 2 large explosions outside led Bailey and Whitehall were "dreadfully familiar" to those familiar w/N. Ireland terrorism. 1 died and more than 100 were wounded w/devastation akin to WWII blitz. 2 other large bombs were found and defused. Scotland Yard thought it was IRA's doing and made arrests of suspects boarding planes for Belfast. Heath called bombings "terrible reflection on civilization. 11 In N. Ireland, referendum on independence or continued union w/Britain was held amid more bombs, heavy Protestant vote and Catholic boycott. W/2-to-1 Protestant majority ABC said outcome -- for continued union - - was decided 50 years ago and what was needed wasn't "empty exercise perpetrating past but a creative dialogue looking toward the future. 11 Over film of Catholics in an Irish border going to mass rather than polls NBC noted that for them "prayer is safer than politics. 11 All nets noted Gray was "excused" from hearings for the time being, but ABC w/film report noted disclosure of raw FBI files on Segretti-Kalmbach-Chapin is continuing to "send vibrations" around DC and is "1st official direct link" of high WH officials to espionage stories. ABC said WH has no plans to withdraw nomination but NBC said WH "indirectly criticized" Gray on