Soviets to Tell Moratorium Decision Soon

The Kremlin will announce in a few days whether it plans to extend its yearlong unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests, which expired today, a deputy foreign minister said.

The Kremlin has issued no clear signals on whether it will resume testing in the face of the United States’ refusal to join the Soviet moratorium.

“Many statesmen and political figures of foreign countries have addressed and are addressing the Soviet government in connection with the question of an extension of the . . . moratorium,” Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail S. Kapitsa said at a Moscow news conference.

“This question will be considered with due regard for these addresses and for how much, in our evaluation, the United States is seriously prepared to negotiate an end to nuclear tests,” he said.