Editing 78-01-A1 (section)

=== Transcript ===
When it comes to the current Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (they're called
SALT II for short), the Soviet Union seems to be resorting to a technique they've
used with us before: bluster. Right now, they seem so pleased with some tentative
concessions they got from our government last fall that they've launched a major
propaganda campaign to lock them in place.

American critics of the current negotiations are worried that our cruise
missile will be bargained away. It's a new weapon system that could provide
security for Western Europe. In fact, its deployment in Western Europe was one
of the Russians' greatest worries till their Foreign Minister met with President
Carter in September. Now they aren't talking about it anymore.

To review, Secretary of State Vance went to Moscow last spring, made some
proposals and was turned down cold by the Soviets. After that, Moscow turned its
propaganda machine to "high" in denouncing the U.S. This, too, stopped after the
Gromyko-Carter meeting and after the SALT talks themselves seemed to turn more to
the Soviets' liking.

Bear in mind the Soviet objectives. They want maximum flexibility for their
mobile-launched missiles; they want to downplay the importance of their intercontinental
Backfire bomber and, of course, they are firmly against on-site inspections.

Now, since fall, there has been a barrage of Pravda stories and Radio Moscow
panel programs to stress the urgency of signing a formal agreement quickly -- "on
the basis of agreements reached in principle as result of recent talks."

Meanwhile, attacks on U. S. skeptics of the SALT talks sharpened, especially
against Senator Henry Jackson of Washington, former Defense Secretary Melvin
Laird, Senator Barry Goldwater and former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze.
Pravda and Isvestia have unleased some of their highest voltage criticism on these
men because they have expressed sharp doubts about the turn the negotiations have
taken.

Moscow has also asked the help of its friends on the left in the United States
to try to build pressure for a favorable SALT II agreement signed. Prompted by
the Soviet-controlled World Peace council, an ad hoc group met twice in October
to work out a link-up between advocates of U.S. disarmament and the more hysterical
elements of the anti-nuclear movement. Among groups supporting the Mobilization
for Survival, the new ad hoc operation, are some old familiars on the left: the
War Resisters League, Women Strike for Peace and the American Friends Service
committee.

The plan of this coalition is to fight every new American weapons development
tooth-and-nail (along with nuclear power), on the grounds that if we take the first
disarmament steps unilaterally, the Russians are sure to follow. Heard that one
before? It's been around at least two decades. One of the things that caused so
much controversy over Paul Warnke's appointment by President Carter as disarmament
chief last year was Warnke's apparent belief in this theory.

You needn't ask whether there are any Moscow chapters of this anti-nuclear, pro
disarmament lobby. There aren't. And the Kremlin is going ahead with nuclear power
and weapons development full-tilt, without so much as a peep of protest from the 
American left.

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.
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