CUBA . . . TIGHT-LIPPED TALKS COULD END TONIGHT

As both pro- and anti-Castro protesters scuffled outside the United Nations Mission in New York City, U.S. and Cuban officials discussed Washington's offer to expand legal immigration to about 20,000 spots in return for halting Cuban rafters before they set sail. TIME State Department correspondent J.F.O. McAllister says the U.S. side expected to find out tonight whether the Cubans were serious about a deal on emigration. If the talks run into Saturday, McAllister says, the negotiators will focus on technical matters to flesh out a basic agreement. By this afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard had picked up 648 more Cuban refugees after rescuing 1,921 Thursday and 2,159 Wednesday, bringing the total for the year to 28,600.