We wish to announce the availability (by ftp or WWW) of the following paper (revised version) Natural deduction and coherence for weakly distributive categories by R.F. Blute, J.R.B. Cockett, R.A.G. Seely, and T.H. Trimble ABSTRACT: This paper examines coherence for certain monoidal categories using techniques coming from the proof theory of linear logic, in particular making heavy use of the graphical techniques of proof nets. We define a two sided notion of proof net, suitable for categories like weakly distributive categories which have the two-tensor structure (times/par) of linear logic, but lack a negation operator. Representing morphisms in weakly distributive categories as such nets, we derive a coherence theorem for such categories. As part of this process, we develop a theory of expansion-reduction systems with equalities and a term calculus for proof nets, each of which is of independent interest. In the symmetric case the expansion reduction system on the term calculus yields a decision procedure for the equality of maps for free weakly distributive categories. The main results of this paper are these. First we have proved coherence for the full theory of weakly distributive categories, extending similar results for monoidal categories to include the treatment of the tensor units. Second, we extend these coherence results to the full theory of *-autonomous categories - providing a decision procedure for the maps of free symmetric *-autonomous categories. Third, we derive a conservative extension result for the passage from weakly distributive categories to *-autonomous categories. We show strong categorical conservativity, in the sense that the unit of the adjunction between weakly distributive and *-autonomous categories is fully faithful. NOTES: This is a significant revision of an earlier version announced a year ago. The paper has been completely rewritten, and has been enhanced in several ways: 1) We now treat the cases with non-logical axioms, and with non-commutative tensor and par, in considerable detail, pointing out in passing where the traditional treatment (of the pure commutative case) does not work in these cases. For example, the traditional proof of sequentiality (via splitting links) does not work in the presence of non-logical axioms. 2) We develop a term calculus for proof nets, and a theory of expansion - reduction rewrite systems, both of which are of independant interest. 3) Using this new material has made the proofs clearer and more complete. TO OBTAIN THE PAPER: By ftp: ftp triples.math.mcgill.ca login as anonymous use your email address as password cd pub/rags/nets binary get nets.ps.gz (or nets.dvi.gz if you prefer) (You will have to gunzip this file to get the PostScript - or DVI - file for the paper.) By WWW (Mosaic, netscape, ...) My home page is: ftp://triples.math.mcgill.ca/pub/rags/ragstriples.html click on the item labelled with the paper's title - this will display the PostScript file. (other papers dealing with weakly distributive categories and proof nets may be found easily via my home page.) (If you need to get gunzip, you can find it at pip.shsu.edu: issue the command "quote site index gzip" once you have ftp'd the site to get a list of files suitable for various computer platforms.) = rags =