U.S. Envoy Will Snub Soviet Victory Parade

U.S. Ambassador Arthur A. Hartman will not attend a Red Square parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany because the killing of an Army officer in East Germany is “still unresolved,” a U.S. Embassy spokesman said today.

Maj. Arthur D. Nicholson Jr. was shot and killed by a Soviet sentry March 24 near Ludwigslust. The Soviets said the American, a member of the U.S. liaison mission in East Germany, was spying in a restricted military area. U.S. officials denied the charge.

“At a time when the Nicholson case is still unresolved, we did not feel it was appropriate for the ambassador or a military representative to attend a military parade on Red Square,” the U.S. Embassy spokesman said.

The Thursday parade is to mark the 40th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Allies in World War II.

The U.S. spokesman said two American diplomats of counselor rank--the most senior level below ambassador--will attend the parade.

The United States and the Soviet Union held consultations after the Nicholson shooting, but are now locked in a dispute about what was discussed at those talks and who was responsible for the incident.

On April 26, the State Department ordered a Soviet military attache in Washington to leave the country to protest Soviet treatment of the shooting. So far, there have been no retaliatory expulsions from Moscow.