Key Arms Funding Issues Resolved : Capitol Hill Accord Averts Veto Fight During Summit

The White House and Congress reached agreement Tuesday on several key arms control issues, thus avoiding a veto fight during the forthcoming U.S.-Soviet summit.

Under terms of the deal, written into the $296-billion defense spending bill for the current fiscal year, the Administration agreed to limit testing of the Strategic Defense Initiative missile defense system, known as “Star Wars.”

In addition, it agreed to dismantle a nuclear-missile submarine to avoid further violations of the terms of the unratified 1979 strategic arms limitation treaty and to observe a moratorium on testing anti-satellite weapons.

Congress agreed to drop its insistence on a ban on testing of nuclear weapons in excess of one kiloton, providing that the Soviet Union does the same.

Terms Apply for One Year

All terms of the compromise apply for only one year, however, setting the stage for another battle on the same issues next fall.

The deal was worked out in a series of closed negotiating sessions on Capitol Hill between National Security Adviser Frank C. Carlucci and members of a House-Senate conference committee on the defense budget bill.

Democrats in Congress hailed the compromise as the beginning of a less confrontational period between the Administration and Congress on arms control issues. Carlucci will soon replace outgoing Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, who stubbornly has refused to compromise with lawmakers on “Star Wars” and other weapons systems.

The chief provision deals with Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative research plan and Administration efforts to test systems that Congress believes violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Narrow Interpretation Sought

Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.), chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services committees, have attempted to hold the Administration to a narrow interpretation of the treaty. The Administration wants a broader reading of the pact that will allow advanced experiments in space-based lasers and other exotic technologies. The bill authorizes $3.9 billion for “Star Wars” research and some limited laboratory testing.

“The solution was relatively simple,” Aspin said. “The White House got what it wanted: Nothing in the law will order it explicitly to endorse SALT (the strategic arms limitation treaty) or the narrow interpretation (of the ABM treaty). We got what we wanted: The Administration will do nothing in the coming year that will violate the narrow interpretation, and it will stabilize the strategic launcher count rather than continue its buildup.”

Rep. William L. Dickinson (R-Ala.), the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the deal as congressional meddling in executive branch business.

‘Tie the President’s Hands’

“For the second year in a row, the liberals have attempted to impose their will on the Administration’s conduct of foreign policy by passing arms control provisions that tie the President’s hands in negotiations with the Soviets,” Dickinson said.

All the congressional negotiators, however, predicted that President Reagan will sign the bill.

Under the agreement, the Administration agreed to dismantle the Poseidon missile submarine Andrew Jackson, taking out of service 16 nuclear missile launchers. At the same time, the Air Force will be allowed to convert up to 19 B-52 bombers to carry nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. The result is an addition of only three more missile launchers above the SALT limits on missile launchers, which the United States already exceeds by 23 launchers.

MILITARY BUDGET REDUCEDSome of the major provisions of a bill authorizing Pentagon spending limits:

Pay Raise The bill includes a 3% pay hike, effective Jan. 1, for the nation’s 2.1 million uniformed military personnel. The Reagan Administration had sought 4%.

Navy Ships $640 million to begin two new aircraft carriers. Plus $3.3 billion for five Aegis-class cruisers. Also included are $1.8 billion for three attack submarines and $1.3 billion for another Trident missile-firing sub. Three destroyers were eliminated.

“Star Wars” The bill provides $3.9 billion for the Strategic Defense Initiative. President Reagan requested $5.7 billion.

Air Force Planes $2.8 billion for 180 F-16s, $1.6 billion for 42 F-15 fighters. Plus $723 million to begin purchasing the C-17, a new cargo plane.

Army Weapons $1.8 billion for 720 M-1 Abrams tanks, plus $773 million to buy 616 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and $963 million for 77 Apache attack helicopters.

Nuclear Missiles Includes money for 12 MX nuclear-tipped missiles, nine fewer than the 21 sought by the Administration. It also includes money for two land-based nuclear missiles designed to succeed the MX single-warhead “Midgetman” weapon.

Source: Associated Press