78-04-A3
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Salt Talks I
TranscriptEvery now and then optimistic reports are given of the progress made in the talks preparatory to the Strategic Arms Limitation negotiations--called "SALT II" for short. Usually, the optimism seems to be based on what further concessions we'll make before actual negotiations begin. We've made such preemptive concessions as cancelling the B-1 Bomber without waiting for the negotiations. Former members of the highest levels of military command have uttered warnings about the Russians' growing might. Among these are former Defense Intelligence Agency Chief General Graham, Air Force Intelligence Chief General Keegan and Admiral Zunwalt, former chief of navel operations--to name a few. Now, writing in The Reader's Digest former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird says'--QUOTE-- "The evidence is incontrovertible that the Soviet Union has repeatedly, flagrantly and indeed contemptuously violated the treaties to which we have adhered." He goes on to say; "This evidence has been withheld from the Congress, the press and the public. I believe there is no longer any excuse for denying the American people their representatives facts whose suppression profits only our enemies." --UNQUOTE-- The former defense secretary gives particulars such as the Soviets deploying an anti:-ballistic missile, the upgrading of medium-range missiles to long-range and interference in our monitoring efforts. All are violations of the SALT I treaty. And, he says, these violations are increasing even as we go forward with plans for another SALT treaty in which we will rely on the good faith of the Soviet Union. For example, having given up the B-1 we're prepared to let the Soviets continue producing their Backfire bomber so long as they don't increase the rate of production. The catch is we don't know what their present rate is and they won't tell us. Laird says there has been a steady stream of intelligence reports about Soviet violations both in the previous administration and this one, but the desire for "detente" is so great these reports are being kept from Congress and the people. Senator James Allen has said that our SALT negotiators apparently feel we could resolve the Backfire impasse by getting Brezhnev to write a letter promising that the bombers will not be deployed in such a way as to threaten the United States. That leads to a pretty obvious question, why would they build them if they intended to keep such a promise? But to get back to the SALT violation, Laird says the Russians aren't hearing a single peep of protest from us. They must really be looking forward to the new negotiations--just think they'll have a brand new treaty to violate. I'll talk more about this on the next broadcast. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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