ARMS-TEST CURBS SET OFF A DISPUTE NEW YORK TIMES - 26 DECEMBER 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 31, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090002-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090002-8
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090002-8
ARMS-TEST CURBS
SET OFF A DISPUTE
C.I.A. and Energy Dept. Fault
Administration's Plan for
Monitoring A-Blasts
By MICHAEL GORDON
rp.W k- 71. MM YMk 7M...
WASHINGTON. Dec. 25 - A sharp
debate has developed among Govern-
ment experts over a tentative plan by
the Reagan Administration to improve
the monitoring of Soviet compliance
with two 1970's nuclear lest-limitation
treaties, according to classified Gov-
ernment documents and Administra-
tion officials.
The treaties limit the size of under-
ground nucidar explosions.
Experts from the -Central Intelll-
gence Agency have complained that
the plan is "deficient." Energy Depart-
ment officials have also criticized the
plan because they believe it would
allow Soviet experts to gather sensitive
Intelligence Information.
But other Government officials dis-
miss the criticisms as exaggerations.
The debate has eioerged just weeks
before Administration officials ;an
scheduled to testify before the Senate
Foreign Relations ? Committee abort
their Ideas for enhancing Ameria'0
ability to monitor Soviet adherence to
the treaties.
At issue are the 1974 Threshold Test
Ban Treaty, which limits underground
tests to yields of no more than 150 kilo-
tons. and a companion 1076 agreement
that extends this limit to peaceful un-
derground explosions for such pur-
poses as construction.
What Ragan Said Before Iceland
On the eve of the Iceland summit
meeting in October, President Reagan
said he would ask the Senate to ap-
prove the two treaties next year. He
also said, however. that the treaties
would not take effect until the Soviet
Union agreed to new verification meas-
ures.
Ni?t: York '1' i me: - A9
20 11ece111her I980
In return, the House of Representa-
tives dropped its effort to legislate a
ban on all but the smaller nuclear tests.
But now that the treaties are to be
taken up by the Congrem strong differ-.
ences have emerged among Govern-
ment experts.
At the heart of the debate is a moral-:
toting approach proposed by Mr. Rea-'
San called Comex. Under this ap-
proach. a cable would be inserted into
the ground to take direct measure-
ments of a nuclear blast.
Reagan Invites Russians Here
Mr. Reagan has Invited Soviet ex-
perts to visit the American test site and
examine the Corrtex system.
American experts have already pro-
posed measures based on this ap-
proach in private talks with Soviet ex-
perts In Geneva. SpecUltally.- the
Americans have suggested the-adop.
Lion of two measures to improve moni-
toring of the trestles.
One would require each side to notify
the other in advance of all tests of 75
kilotons or greater. The United States
would be allowed to take direct meas-
urements of all tests above this 75 kilo-
ton theshold using the Corrtex system.
The Soviet Union could use this system
or another system. as long as It did not
present more opportunities for gather-
ing intelligence Information than the
Corrtex system. A kiloton is the explo-
sive force of 1.000 tons of TNT.
The second measure would state that
if one side did not conduct tests of 75
kilotons or greater over six months. the
other could monitor the largest test it
conducted In a specified area within Its
test range in this period.
But the C.I.A. has criticized this ap-
proach as technically flawed.
t1?
Wringplant 'is Inch t
a corn . d4 +-.
rd~ tt maidmizlag the aoqul
sietett'd datrnIeviM to veriflcathn.
"" 't'LAt.,.papet tinted:, Deg., 4.
which d the agency-
Other Measures Are Sought
To Improve nQMt ,fts.).A
a
rnrt
Enetorgybe conceDepamedentthatothe fficialsAdmiralsre
said
tration'spWt would allow the Russians:
to gather sensitive Information abouti
some Americcan n'tests, iacludlog tests;
for
seatXit plan The s ..Star Wars" re-!
Energy Department
oversees the American nuclear testing
program.
More Than C.I.A. Needs to Know?
But other Government experts in.
valved
th dispute
seinitici~t . serissue strongly said the
cr
s They
was seeking more information about
Soviet testing than the United States
needed to build confidence that the
treaties
"There Is a delicate balance to be
struck on the question of verification."
said one Government critic of the C.I.A.
view. "And what you are are
weights being piled up one side."
This official added that the new
monitoring officials represented lot than we hope to get from the Russians
or really need."
This official said the information
gained through the Comex system
would allow the United States to better
"calibrate" Its seismic measurements.
The end result. he maintained, was that
the uncertainty in seismic measure-
ments would be reduced, eliminating
the need for the comprehensive set of
monitoring measures suggested by the
C.I.A.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090002-8
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