U.N. Cutback Order Dims Summit Chances--Soviets : U.S. Action Described as Illegitimate

The Kremlin countered a U.S. order to cut Soviet staff at the United Nations with an official protest today warning Washington that its “illegitimate demand” could jeopardize U.S.-Soviet relations and the next summit.

U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Richard Combs was called to the Foreign Ministry early today and given a verbal protest calling the U.S. action “arbitrary, unfounded” and a “flagrant violation” of American obligations.

The U.S. actions not only contradict Washington’s assurances that it wants better relations with Moscow, “but also do direct damage to them,” the statement said.

The statement was distributed by the official Tass news agency and repeated on state radio.

“The U.S. Administration must be aware that such actions increase distrust of its policy and by no means create a favorable background for a summit meeting,” the statement said.

No Date Set

Although President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev agreed to meet in Washington this year and in Moscow in 1987, no date has been set, and U.S. officials have complained that the Kremlin is stalling.

Gorbachev said two weeks ago that it might not be worthwhile holding another summit unless there is progress in arms talks, specifically calling for agreement to his proposals.

In addition to the summit, the oral protest threatened to block the long-sought agreement to open a U.S. consulate in Kiev in exchange for another Soviet office in New York.

It also questioned whether the United Nations should remain in New York, a theme of Soviet press comments that preceded the official reaction.

“It must also be clear that such actions cannot but tell most seriously on the development of contacts between our countries in various fields,” the protest said.

Spying Involvement

The United States ordered the Soviet Union on Friday to cut its U.N. staff from 275 to 170 by April 1, 1988. The order claimed that the Soviet Union’s current personnel level is unreasonably high and that some Soviets assigned to U.N. offices have been involved in spying.

Describing the U.S. action as “arbitrary,” the Foreign Ministry said “nothing in the existing international agreements” gives Washington the right to restrict the number of employees at any mission.

“U.S. pretensions to assume a right to fix staff levels of the permanent missions of U.N. member nations are totally inadmissible,” the protest said.

The ministry called “utterly far-fetched and unfounded” U.S. claims of espionage by Soviet U.N. workers.

It said U.N. staffing has increased in recent years because U.N. work has grown and the number of committees and agencies in which the Soviets participate has more than doubled.

No Link to Summit

In Washington, the State Department today defended the U.S. action and said the action “has nothing to do with a summit meeting.”

Department spokesman Charles Redman told reporters, “There is no reason why this step should impair bilateral relations.”

Redman said the U.S. action was necessary to protect national security and noted that even after its staff is reduced, the Soviet mission will still be the largest at the United Nations and will be able to conduct U.N. business.

“We are prepared to work with the Soviets to ensure minimal dislocation in effecting these reductions,” Redman said, adding that the staff could be reduced principally through attrition.