Shultz Lobbies for MX Missile, ‘Star Wars’ Plan

Secretary of State George P. Shultz, briefing congressmen on his agreement to begin new arms talks with the Soviet Union, put in a pitch Thursday for congressional approval of two of the Reagan Administration’s most controversial arms proposals--the “Star Wars” space-based missile defense system and the MX missile.

However, many on Capitol Hill believe it is too early to tell whether the prospect of a breakthrough in arms negotiations will give the Administration an edge in getting Congress to accept the two programs.

Shultz told reporters after separate closed sessions with House and Senate members that the two programs should be pursued regardless of the negotiations, because they are vital to U.S. security.

However, he also suggested that continuing the programs would strengthen the U.S. position in the talks.

‘They Would Love It’

“It is obviously the case that if (the Soviets) can get what they want out of us without giving up anything in return, they would love it.”

Shultz said that diplomats next week will begin trying to agree on a time and place for the talks, which are to include long-range strategic weapons, intermediate-range missiles and space weapons. Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko agreed to the negotiations at preliminary sessions in Geneva earlier this week.

Congress is scheduled to vote after March 1 on whether to spend the $2.5 billion it has set aside to build 21 additional MX missiles, and leaders of both houses have said that the program’s chances are dicey. There also is strong opposition to the “Star Wars” proposal, which Shultz said would “move from deterrence based on the idea that ‘we can each blow each other up’ to a deterrent based more and more on defense.”

Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, and Rep. Dante B. Fascell (D-Fla.), House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, each said after the briefings that they are uncertain whether the anticipated arms negotiations have affected either program’s prospects. With Congress in recess until Inauguration Day, it is difficult to determine overall sentiment, they said.

However, Rep. Roy Dyson (D-Md.), one of about 50 congressmen attending the briefing for House members, said the session “was like a love-in there today. The Democrats there seemed to be overwhelmed with what had been accomplished.”

‘Tremendous Momentum’ Dyson, who has supported the “Star Wars” defense plan and opposed the MX, added: “I think the Administration has a tremendous momentum building right now. They’re very good at this. (From their standpoint,) they ought to capitalize on it.”

But others on Capitol Hill have suggested that hopes for successful arms talks could instead work against the weapons programs. They argue that Congress is likely to want to avoid antagonizing the Soviets during such a critical period.

“Those members who would like to see a serious cut in defense spending will argue that we’re moving into a period of serious detente,” Scott Cohen, retiring staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said. “At the same time, some would argue that we shouldn’t unilaterally abandon any weapons system at this time.”

Some have suggested that a congressional vote on the MX may be delayed until after the talks, but Fascell said that “remains to be seen.”