S.A.L.T. push in Senate

Press, 11 July 1979, Page 8

S.A.L.T. push in Senate

I NZPA-Reuter Washington The Carter Administration has opened its fight for Senate approval of the S.A.L.T. II treaty with the Soviet Union by warning senators against seeking changes to I make the pact more favourable to the United States. The Secretary of State (Mr Cyrus. Vance) told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty was an arms control move which, viewed as a whole, served United States interests.

A two-thirds favourable vote 'by the 100-member Senate is required for ratification, and the Administration expects a tough battle. Mr Vance said comnromises had been made bv both sides, during seven years of negotiations, and added: “We cannot realistically expect' to shift the bargain more in our favour now through a process of amendment and reservation.” A number of senators, including the influential Republican minority leader, Senator Howard Baker, have said they cannot support the treatv as it stands, and have ureed changes. The Defence Secretary (Mr Harold Brown) also testified on the treaty, which would limit American and Soviet long-range missile and bomber forces and restrain the growth of nuclear arsenals. Both the Administration and high Soviet officials have stronglv opposed any changes in the treatv text, although the Senate Democratic leader, Mr Robert Byrd, suggested that certain reservations and understandings that did not affect the wording might be acceptable. Hundreds of spectators lined up outside the Senate caucus room before the start of the hearings, which are to last for the rest of the month and resume after the Au mis f recess. The full Senate is expected to consider the treaty bv October. At present a large bloc of senators remains undecided about its merits.