Reagan Offers to Discuss Test Site Inspection

President Reagan has sent Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev a letter, described by one aide as “conciliatory,” offering to discuss on-site inspection of nuclear testing in both countries, Administration officials said Monday.

The United States publicly rejected a Dec. 5 offer by Gorbachev to open up some Soviet nuclear test sites for inspection in return for U.S. participation in a Soviet moratorium on underground nuclear testing.

The United States wants to continue underground testing to develop new weapons, including possible components of the Strategic Defense Initiative, or “Star Wars” missile-defense plan.

Encouraged by Tone

But U.S. officials, who declined to be identified, said that Reagan was encouraged by the tone of the Soviet proposal and by Gorbachev’s apparent willingness to consider on-site inspection.

Disclosure of the Reagan letter came on a day when the President formally submitted a written report to Congress claiming that the Soviets have gained militarily through violations of treaties governing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Administration spokesmen, led by Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, have frequently made such accusations in the past.

“Through its non-compliance, the Soviet Union has made military gains in the areas of strategic offensive arms as well as chemical, biological and toxin weapons,” the presidential report said.

‘Darken the Atmosphere’

Despite a claim that these violations “darken the atmosphere” for new arms-control accords, the language of the President’s report--and of senior officials who briefed reporters on its contents--was generally mild.

Also on Monday, White House spokesman Larry Speakes told reporters that Reagan will continue to abide by the provisions of the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty that--had it been ratified--would expire Dec. 31.

“The policy is in place,” Speakes said. “Our policy on SALT II is that we’ve indicated we will live under the agreements of SALT II and not violate them. And until we say differently the policy remains the same, and no announcement is required on Dec. 31.”