Soviet Checkers of Nuclear Bases to Be on Short Rein
Soviet inspectors will be scrutinized right down to the cameras they carry when they arrive in Western Europe to conduct spot checks of U.S. nuclear missile bases under the proposed new superpower treaty, Western officials said today.
No sightseeing breaks or side trips to other bases will be allowed, and the Soviets will have a constant American escort, backed up by officials of whichever European country they happen to be visiting.
When Soviet inspectors arrive to visit one facility, said a British official commenting only on condition he not be named, “there’ll be no question of, say, them wandering off to have a look at another one.”
Three-Year Phase-Out
The treaty, to be signed at the summit in Washington Dec. 8-10, will eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles over three years. Missiles and warheads will be taken back to the Soviet Union or the United States where they will be broken into pieces--the size is stipulated in the treaty--or launched in such a way as to burn up in the air.
To prevent cheating, the treaty allows for unprecedented physical inspections of missile bases by each side.
During the three-year destruction period, each side may make 20 inspections a year, with a maximum of 10 visits to any one country.
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