Despite Tensions, U.S., Soviets Resume Talks on Nuclear Arms

The United States and the Soviet Union resumed nuclear arms control negotiations Thursday in the middle of strained relations over the case of an American journalist charged with spying in Moscow.

Details of the first meeting, which opened the sixth round of talks since March, 1985, were not made public. “We are sticklers for confidentiality,” U.S. spokesman Terry Shroeder said. The talks, covering long-range nuclear weapons, intermediate-range arms and space and defense weapons, had been in recess for three months.

Thursday’s session lasted nearly three hours. Before it began, Soviet negotiator Alexei A. Obukhov said the case of American magazine reporter Nicholas Daniloff, charged with espionage by the Kremlin, has been “unduly dramatized” by the United States in an effort to strain the superpower relationship.

He told reporters that if the U.S. side brought up the case at the talks, it would create an unfavorable atmosphere.

The U.S. Administration had said its negotiators would discuss the case, and it was thought that they did so at the first meeting.

U.S. chief delegate Max M. Kampelman said on his arrival here Tuesday that the “hostage-taking” of Daniloff has seriously affected U.S.-Soviet relations in all areas.

Negotiators met at the Soviet Mission for a full session Thursday. Next week, the talks are to break down into the three main subject areas by separate negotiating teams.

The U.S. team has brought new proposals on the issues of strategic and medium-range missiles in an effort to reach interim agreements until broader goals can be met.

An Administration official said in Washington on Tuesday that one plan would involve negotiating 30% cuts in strategic nuclear forces instead of 50% cuts that both sides have agreed on in principle. The disagreement has been over what weapon systems would be cut.

The new U.S. proposal would enable the Soviets to retain more of their land-based intercontinental missiles, which form the bulk of their nuclear force. The United States would be able to retain its lead in strategic bombers.

Obukhov was asked if the Soviets would be prepared to accept such a proposal. He repeated the Soviet position that the United States must agree to extend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty for 10 to 15 years if any weapons cuts are to be agreed upon.

The United States has said it will be open to a shorter extension.

Viktor P. Karpov, chief of the Soviet delegation, will return to Geneva next week after taking part in talks in the United States between Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze and Secretary of State George P. Shultz.