Crucial time for S.A.L.T. in Moscow

Press, 23 October 1978, Page 6

Crucial time for S.A.L.T. in Moscow

(NZPA-Reuter Moscow ■ ) The United States Secre-f | tary of State (Mr Cyrus ( ' Vance) will meet the Soviet). Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei! (Gromyko) today for a criti-| | cal round . of negotiations) (aimed at concluding the long-1 ; delayed Strategic Arms! [ Limitation Treaty. I Both sides have indicated I 'that there are still important) ■'differences on details to be I resolved before the accord to I >'replace the 1972 S.A.L.T.-lj 'agreement can be signed. 1 ;( A senior United States) .: official on the plane which) r , brought the Secretary of\ .(State to Moscow said a) ■•(further meeting might be) T necessary after the Kremlin i talks, i j “We are really down near: j|the end now, but as the end; i igets nearer it always gets; . | tougher,” he said. f ( Soviet commentators have I i been careful not to predict) i the outcome of the two days I (of talks—the eighth between! >! the two Foreign Ministers in) 7 the last 18 months — and I fl their caution has been r e -| .(fleeted in the official cover-' 'age of Mr Vance’s visit. I

Official newspapers printed! brief announcements of the visit while Soviet television’s main news relegated a short film of Mr Vance’s arrival to the second half of its programme. The Government newspaper, “Isvestia,” has published a fresh attack on Washington’s announcement last week that the production of components for neutron warheads was to begin. | President Carter was I resorting to a piecemeal approach to the introduction of the controversial weapon to defuse public alarm over its deployment in Europe, “Izvestia” said. In a commentary on Friday the Communist Party daily, “Pravda,” suggested that ♦he | United States might not) really be interested in genuine agreements on disarma-i ment measures. Although it did not specifically mention the S.A.L.T.; negotiations, the newspaper! was expressing a view frequently voiced by Soviet; commentators during the S.A.L.T. negotiations.