The Soviet proposal for a moratorium on nuclear-weapons testing had sat on the table since July, disdained by the Reagan Administration as a mere propaganda ploy. But with the Kremlin's self-imposed (and rather self-serving) testing freeze due to expire on Jan. 1, Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev sweetened the offer. If the U.S. agreed to join the Soviets in a testing halt, he wrote President Reagan on Dec. 5, U.S. inspectors would be welcome in the Soviet Union to resolve questions about cheating.
Suddenly, the Administration began listening. In 25 years of jawing over arms control, the supremely suspicious Soviets have steadfastly...
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