Generals Lead Talks on Future of SALT Treaty

Delegations led by military generals from the United States and the Soviet Union opened talks today on the future of the 1979 SALT II treaty limiting strategic nuclear arms.

The meeting was requested by Moscow after President Reagan, citing alleged Soviet violations, announced in May that Washington no longer felt bound by the limits of the strategic arms limitation treaty, which was never ratified by Congress but has been observed by informal agreement.

The Soviets, requesting a clarification about whether the United States intended to formally renounce the treaty, asked for the special meeting of the Standing Consultative Commission, a group established in 1972 to monitor compliance with arms control agreements.

Although the commission’s next session was scheduled for September, a U.S. delegation statement said the United States agreed to the early talks in Geneva “as a sign of our desire” for mutual restraint on arms.

At today’s talks, the chief American delegate was Gen. Richard H. Ellis, former head of the Strategic Air Command, with the Soviet side led by Gen. Vladimir Medvedev, a member of the General Staff.

Officials said the talks could last from two days to a week. Both sides said there would be a total news blackout except for confirmation that the meeting was taking place.