S.A.L.T. signed as chilly summit ends

Press, 19 June 1979, Page 8

S.A.L.T. signed as chilly summit ends

I NZPA-Reuter Vienna The United States and the Soviet Union have signed a new Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty at the close of a summit meeting marked by agreement on the need for I broader detente but also by sharp differences over vital world issues. Before putting their names to the 22-page document, i President Carter and the Sojviet leader. Mr Leonid | Brezhnev, held their first private discussions of the Isummit conference with only interpreters present. During an, hour-long talk, they reaffirmed a commitment',- emphasised by both in jstiblic comments, to maintain the momentum created by the Vienna summit meeting.

Both leaders pledged to try to reverse a deterioration in United States-Soviet relations since the last summit meeting in 1974. But at a dinner in the Soviet Embassy on Sunday Mr Carter said they had reached no common ground on differences over other burning world problems.

Talks between the two super-Powers’ Defence Ministers (Mr Harold Brown and Mr Dmitry Ustinov) and their military chiefs — the first such meeting since World War II — set the tone for closer consultation

at all levels, particularly on arms control.

, At the dinner Mr Carter (warned the Soviet Union I against exploiting trouble|spots in southern Africa, the .Middle East, and South-East (Asia, and said the United (States was ready to protect |its vital interests. i Mr Brezhnev in turn (spoke of the possibility of dangerous consequences if (there was any attempt to ichange the S.A.L.T. treaty Iby the United States Senate, where there is a strong body [opposed to ratification of the accord. The other accords signed include a memorandum on agreed interpretations of the treaty, a count of largeweapons systems on both sides, and a statement of principles for further nuclear arms limitation —

S.A.L.T. 111. Mr Carter made it clear during over seven hours of talks with Mr Brezhnev that he was looking for a longterm commitment to increased consultation, irrespective of later changes in leadership.

His concern was underlined by Mr Brezhnev’s apparent fragility when he stumbled outside the Soviet Embassy on Sunday and was steadied by the United States president. The Soviet leader has been suffering from undisclosed

I ailments affecting his balance for some time, and he again needed firm support when he escorted Mr Carter to his car after the Soviet j Embassy dinner. j United States officials said .Mr Carter was pleased that (both leaders had achieved lively and frank discussions in Vienna. Mr Carter described the atmosphere at the I Soviet Embassy dinner as "harmonious." and said they [had had a "good time." But the two leaders had failed to i overcome the barrier of i ideological difference in ■their talks.

Attempts by Mr Carter to urge restraint on the Kremlin over Soviet and Cuban activities in Africa, over its total backing for Vietnam's policies in Indo-China. and over its resolute opposition to the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty have so far made no impact.

Officials said the Soviet deader had told President Carter that the Soviet Union ■had not reversed its opposition to the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and would not support it. They said they did not know if Mr Brezhnev’s position meant that the Soviet Union would veto proposals to extend the life of the United Nations Emergency Force now policing the military provisions of the peace treaty.