Reagan, Kohl Agree on Tactical Missiles : Say Arms Modernization Can Be Put Off Until NATO Sets Policy

Warming up for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit next month, President Reagan and West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl agreed Friday that a decision on modernizing short-range nuclear missiles in Europe could be put off until the NATO allies develop a comprehensive arms control package.

Since U.S. and Soviet leaders concluded a treaty in December to eliminate ground-launched medium-range missiles, the Bonn government has been pressing for negotiations to reduce the number of short-range, so-called “battlefield,” nuclear arms in the NATO and Warsaw Pact arsenals.

But the United States, Britain and France have insisted that controls on strategic nuclear missiles, chemical weapons and conventional arms should be considered first.

Two Hours of Talks

“The President and the chancellor discussed the fact that NATO is now working on such an overall (arms control) package and this could include, at some later stage, modernization” of 88 short-range Lance missiles deployed in Western Europe, a senior Administration official said after the leaders concluded two hours of talks.

The official, who spoke only on condition that he not be identified, added that the United States would “move forward with the necessary research and development” on new short-range tactical weapons but would hold off on their production and deployment.

In a statement upon Kohl’s departure, Reagan thanked the chancellor for lobbying U.S. senators on the need for speedy ratification of the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty signed by Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev last December.

Reagan said the treaty, which would eliminate ground-launched missiles with ranges between 300 and 3,400 miles, “represents a major political success for NATO.”

Priorities Discussed

The President also reported that he and Kohl had discussed “the NATO alliance’s next arms control priorities.”

Those include negotiations toward a 50% reduction in long-range nuclear missiles, a ban on chemical weapons and a shift in the “serious imbalance” in conventional forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Arms control matters are expected to head the agenda at the summit meeting of Atlantic Alliance leaders March 2-3 in Brussels.

Reagan said that, in his talks with Kohl, he had praised the chancellor’s efforts to stimulate the West German economy, “and I expressed the hope that he would do more.”

Deficit Steps Applauded

Kohl, in turn, “welcomed our efforts to reduce the U.S. federal deficit,” Reagan noted.

And they both agreed on “the need to avoid trade protectionism,” Reagan said, adding, “Protectionism would be an economic disaster for both our countries.”

In response, Kohl declared that the INF treaty had “opened the way towards genuine disarmament.”

He said that, in meetings with key senators, he had “pleaded in no uncertain terms in favor of the ratification of this agreement without any restricting amendments.”

Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) agreed that Kohl “put his wholehearted support behind the INF treaty,” arguing that “the sooner we do this (the sooner) we can challenge the Soviets” on other arms issues.

Among senators lobbied by Kohl was North Carolina Republican Jesse Helms, who has argued against the treaty on grounds that it will hurt European security.

Helms did not relent in his opposition to the pact but said of Kohl: “He’s the most impressive head of state that we’ve had in a long time. He gives detailed answers to every question.”