Mirved Mission to Moscow

Arms control on the fast track

The Pentagon's Richard Perle was idling in southern France and the State Department's Paul Nitze was relaxing in Maine when the call came. This week these two polar opposites within the U.S. arms-control apparatus voyage to Moscow as part of a high-level mission to explain President Reagan's latest proposals and create enough concord to entice Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to set a date for a 1986 summit.

Reagan's refusal to negotiate restrictions on his proposed Strategic Defense Initiative has been the main obstacle to any progress. His latest letter to Gorbachev on the subject, which seemed to give something to hawks...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!