Soviet Experts Arrive in U.S. to Inspect Weapons Factories

Armed with tape measures, scales and Polaroid cameras, Soviet missile specialists arrived in California on Friday to begin unprecedented inspections of U.S. weapons factories.

While their American counterparts traveled to Moscow, the Soviet inspectors arrived here under provisions of the treaty that requires destruction of the two countries’ medium-range missiles.

Friday marked the first day that 26 missile facilities in the United States and Western Europe and 126 Soviet sites became subject to superpower inspection under the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty signed last Dec. 9 at the Washington summit.

“This is an historic moment for our two great nations,” said Col. Tom Smalls, team chief for the Department of Defense’s new On-Site Inspection Agency.

‘Letter and Spirit’

Vyacheslav S. Lebedev, the Soviet team chief, said through an interpreter, that his inspectors will “follow the letter and spirit” of a treaty they hope will further world peace.

“The treaty creates a relatively new atmosphere of trust between our two nations,” Lebedev said. “Our common task is to guarantee mutual trust.”

While 22 inspectors are bound for the Magna, Utah, site of Hercules Plant No. 1, where U.S. missiles are produced, the destination of the remaining 48 Soviets are not required to be made public immediately by the Soviets, said Lt. Col Joseph Wagovich of the On-Site Inspection Agency.

The treaty allows the two sides to visit the other country on 16 hours’ notice and then permits them to wait 48 hours after their arrival before giving notification of the exact sites they will visit.

Perhaps Five Sites

From Travis, Wagovich said, the Soviets could travel to as many as five sites located in San Diego; Ft. Huachuca and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona; Dugway, Utah, and Pueblo, Colo.

“My suspicion is that having come all the way across the Pacific Ocean, they’re going to want to get some rest before making an announcement,” Wagovich said.

Wagovich said Travis’ 60th Military Airlift Wing will have nine hours after the Soviets announce their intended destinations to fly them to those sites.

Reporters were allowed to witness the Soviets’ arrival, but were not to be allowed to accompany the teams. Wagovich said the Soviets have said they wouldn’t seek opportunities to speak to the press.

The Soviet technicians will be escorted by inspection agency teams composed of missile technicians and others specializing in linguistics and security.