ZUMWALT ATTACKS SALT TREATY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400380035-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: May 21, 1979
• Content Type: NSPR

ARTICLE p For Relea ,~h20$jk~'KI&:EC DP88-01315R00 420
()IN PAGE 1 :?e-- 21 May 1979
SALT treat
By CBARGFS W. CORDDRY
Washing" Bureau of The Sun
Washington-The new SALT treaty is a
shockingly watered-down version of what-
the nation's military leaders recommend-
ed, a former member of the. Joint Chiefs,
of Staff, Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt; Jr., USN
(Ret. ), contended yesterday
Admiral Zumwalt, who was chief of na-
val operations from 1970 to 1974, said the
current military higher. command appar-
ently will yield;, to President Carter's
views, stay in: office and support the
treaty with the Soviet Union despite deep
reservations.
But if the Senate compares the joint
chiefs' still-secret. recommendations with
what -finally emerged in'' the. strategic
arms limitation treaty, he said,' it will'
have "great difficulty in believing" they-
really support the pact
Senators "will be shocked at -how far
their }the chiefs'} views have been watered
down" in the-course of negotiating with
the Russians, Admiral Zumwalt claimed.
One of the remaining mysteries for the
coming Senate debate on the so-called
SALT II treaty is the position that will be
taken-and how. forcibly it will be argued,
-by the Joint Chiefs of Staff-. -- ~:~, .:;
They are the chairman, Gea David C_
Jones, and= the chiefs of the Army; Navy,-
Marine..Corps. and Air. Force,. and: they
serve as the President's top military ad-
visers. All they have said for themselvesis
that they are reserving judgment until the:
treaty is in hand.
Admiral Zumwalt` attacked- the treaty':
yesterdayin-a joint appearance on NBC's
Meet 'the: Press program-with, Senator
Jake Garn (R. Utah} and Paul' Nitze, -
former SALT negotiator and leading critic/
of the new treaty. Theirs was a sort of re-
buttal appearance to that last week on the
same program by Cyrus R_ Vance , Secrem
"No," Admiral Zumwalt replied
"The members of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff have to decide whether or not a de-
cision-made by a President who tells
them that there are political factors be-
yond their purview which must be consi-
dered-should be supported or whether
they should leave office. I gather that
these members believe that they should
support, despite their deep reservations,
Mr. Nitze, urging Senate amend-
ments to improve the treaty, said that
the nuclear balance would . become
"much more adverse" to the United
States during the early 1380's when a
SALT III treaty would be under negotia-
tion.
. "I can see no possibility that a SALT
III treaty will be as favorable as SALT
II," Mr. Nitze said, "and SALT II is
wholly unfavorable and uneven."
tary.'of SE'ute,`artd ilarold 13rowii, Secre
tary of Defense;
The Cabinet'offlcers argued that the
treaty is equitable, will limit the nuclear
arms race and can be policed. The three ',
yesterday argued precisely the opposite.
'.:With its high. limits on strategic'mis>
site' launchers and bombers,'.they con- ,.
tended,'SALT II is not 'really on-arms"
control agreement at all and, 'worse, it,,,
will further the Soviet pursuit of nucleur'a
superiority
Specific . criticisms were the pact's ;
failure to include the Soviet.; Backfire
bomber as a strategic weapon and its al-
lowance of 308 heavy SS-18 rockets to
Russia while the United States Is barred
from developing any heavy missile.
Oq the question , of ;,verifying Soviet
compliance with treaty terms, both Sen?
ator Guru and Admiral Zumwalt said it
cannot by done. The admiral said Secre-
tary; Brown was "grossly optimistic" in
estimating that the loss of Iranian moni;-
tofing stations could be compensated for:
in. about a year and he urged the Senate.
to Interrogate those who will be respon-.;
sihie for monitoring.
The treaty sets a'limit'of 2,250'weap.''
ons launchers on either side. The critics'
point was that'the 308 SS-18's alone will,
give the Soviet Union destructive power'
superior to America's total.
Mr. Nitze saw such power,' combined
with superior conventional military,
forces, as giving the Soviet Union Into!-'
erable political advantages in the world,.;
arena.
Asked about Mr. Brown's conitention
that retired officers exaggerate Soviet
power while those still in uniform better
understand the treaty limitations, Admi
rat Zumwalt said his "friend" missed a
chance to buttress his reputation for ac-
curacy.',. .. .
IIe.said that active-duty military
men are "muzzled."
Asked whether public support for the
treaty would be a contradiction of the'!.
military leaders' private views, as ex-
pressed to the President, Admiral Zum-
walt virtually invited the Senate to re-
quest the "position papers" submitted by'
the joint chiefs to the President during.
the SALT negotiations.
Would endorsement :ofthe 'pact be'
"intellectually dishonest?" -- he was.
asked.
Approved For Release 2005/01/12 : CIA-RDP88-01315R000400380035-2