Nation: Trying to Soothe SALT'S Critics

The Administration claims the Soviets are playing fair

We have had five years of monitoring Soviet compliance with the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, and the record to date has been generally good."

So insisted a U.S. arms-control expert last week as the Carter Administration stepped up its efforts to soften opposition in Congress to a new SALT treaty. The old pact expired in October, but the U.S. and Soviet Union have agreed to continue abiding by it while negotiators in Geneva bargain on a SALT II treaty.

If they reach an accord, it will have...