Troops row still a threat to S.A.L.T.

Press, 12 October 1979, Page 6

Troops row still a threat to S.A.L.T.

NZPA-Reuter Washington ' The issue of -Soviet troops ;in Cuba has cast a shadow (over the Carter Administration’s battle for Senate ratification of the new 1 Strategic Arms Limitation (Treaty (S.A.L.T. II) with the Soviet Union. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday (completed an exhaustive i examination of the pact and (will now start preparing it for debate in the Sehate.de- ; ciding whether it wants to attach amendments or reservations of understanding. A committee spokesman (said its chairman (Senator ! Frank Church) would today propose a reservation saying that the pact could not take 'effect until the President certified to Congress that Soviet troops in Cuba would (not engage in combat roles. The Secretary of State (Mr Cyrus Vance), however, • asked by reporters about 'this, said": “I do not believe any reservation is necessary or appropriate.” He said he; hoped none would be; (offered. He said steps announced! by President Carter to' counter the presence of the, Soviet troops — called a 'combat brigade by the Administration — had dealt ; with the situation and put ;the issue in proper perspective. • Both Mr Vance and the Defence Secretary (Mr Harold Brown) argued in written statements to the committee against tampering 'with the treaty, warning 'that this might mean reopening negotiations with the Soviet Union and risking the entire pact. - A two-thirds majority of • the 100-member senate will be needed to ratify the pact and the Administration is 'still short of this number,