Analysis
Soviet move initiates new peace offensive
WASHINGTON (AP) —The Soviet
decision to temporarily halt deployment
of intermediate-range missiles in Europe
appears to be part of a new peace offen
sive by Moscow aimed at influencing
West European public opinion and,
ultimately, the arms control talks in
Geneva.
Administration officials have expected
for some time that the Soviets,- in their
bid to persuade President Ronald Reagan,
to back down from his space-based
missile defense system, would try to
create a split between Washington and
its European allies.
According to this rationale, the
Soviets' would' show flexibility on the
issue that is at the center of allied con
cerns: the intermediate-range nuclear
(INF) weapons that Moscow has been
targeting at Western Europe.
A generous Soviet offer on these SS-20
missiles . would; have great . appeal in
Europe, and the Reagan administration
would come under heavy allied pressure
to cut a deal with Moscow.
A
administration officials see it,
however, the Soviets’ price for flexibility
on the SS-20 issue would be U.S. aban
donment of its ‘‘Star Wars” research pro
gram, which Moscow has derided as an
attempt by Washington to “militarize
space” and to accelerate the arms race.
The administration has said that the
research program is not negotiable.
To U.S. officials, the decision of
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, an
nounced Sunday, to order a halt in
missile deployments until November
was not a surprise. The Soviets are
reported to have disclosed: the plan
privately to U.S. negotiators several
weeks ago shortly, after the arms talks
resumed in Geneva.
A generous Soviet offer on
these SS-20 missiles
would have great appeal
in Europe...
Gorbachev said the Soviet decision on
whether to resume the deployments after
November would depend on whether the
United States ordered a freeze of its own
on installing cruise and Pershing II
missiles in Western Europe, He is hop
ing that European pressure will leave the
administration no choice but to opt for a
freeze.
JL JLours after Gorbachev’s interview
with-Pravda was made public, presiden
tial spokesman Larry Speakes said the
administration has no intention of alter
ing iTs deployment schedule, claiming
that the Soviets already have a 10-1 ad
vantage over the United States in
warheads. .
. c.
Gorbachev coupled his SS-20 offer
with ap expression of interest in meeting
with Reagan. But Speakes said the Soviet
leader’s statement added nothing new to
what was already known about his views
on that subject.
Gorbachev’s decision on INF
deployments evoked memories of the
peace offensive Moscovv carried out in
1983 to try to persuade the allied coum
tries to' reject the installation of cruise
and Pershing II missiles.
Thai bid failed and “prompted the
Soviets, in the fall of 1983, to walk out of
the intermediate-range weappns negotia
tions as well as separate discussions on
intercontinental missiles.
It is generally believed here that the
Soviets agreed to return to the bargain
ing table last month with one priority ob
jective in mind: to negotiate an end to
the "Star Wars” research program, for
mally known as the Strategic Defense
Initiative.
The Soviets’ actions to date indicate
they are eager for an early agreement that
would involve both cuts in intermediate
and strategic missiles and a ban on ad
vance missile defense research.
The Reagan administration has been
pressing the Europeans to endorse the
"Star Wars” concept, but the response
has been mixed.
Some Europeans have expressed sup
port, but British Foreign Secretary Geof
frey Howe said recently he is worried
that SDI could touch off a new round of
arms spending aimed at finding ways to
penetrate the new defensive shield.
. Analaysis by George Gedda
Of The Associated Press
George Gedda has covered the State
Department for the Associated Press
since 1975.
egislative Update
Editor's note: Here are
highlights of the Oregon
Legislature last week.
Unemployment
Benefits
Sen. Margie Hendriksen, D
Eugene, said Thursday that
U.S. Senate legislation to phase
out Federal Supplemental
Unemployment Benefits is a
“slap in the face to Orego
nians.” The move also was
criticized by Rep. Bob Shiprack,
D-Beavercreek, chair of the
House Labor Committee.
The Senate voted Wednesday
to phase out the benefits for the
long-term unemployed. The
program, enacted in 1983, ex
tended unemployment compen
sation by an additional 14
weeks.
Noting that Oregon’s
unemployment rate is substan
tially higher than the nation as a
whole. Hendriksen said ending
the program could affect 11,000
Oregonians by June. She
criticized Sen. Bob Packwood,
R:Oregon, for his vote for the
legislation and his failure to use
his influence as chair of the
Senate Finance Committee to
retain the benefits.
In a statement Thursday,
Packwood said he voted to end
the benefits because they faced
a veto from President Ronald
Reagan.
The Senate Labor Committee,
which Hendriksen chairs, will
begin hearings today on Senate
Bill 448, which would extend
the state supplemental benefit
program that is due to expire
June 29.
Sales Tax
The Senate Revenue Commit
tee has put together a distribu
tion plan for the proposed 5 per
cent sales tax. Under the plan,
most Oregon homeowners
would receive an approximately
30 percent reduction in proper
ty taxes. •
The committee plans to have
a final vote on the distribution
plan today. After a public hear
ing Tuesday, the panel probably
will approve the entire sales tax
package, sending it to the full
Senate for a vote this week.
The sales tax package passed
in the House in February. If
passed in the Senate, the sales
tax would go before voters in a
special election Sept. 17.
Seat Belts
The Senate passed 20-10 a bill
(SB 342} requiring passengers
under age 16 to wear seat belts
or other restraints yvhile riding
in an automobile. Drivers
would face a $50 fine if their
young passengers are not buck
kled up.
The bill now moves to the
House. An earlier Senate bill re
quiring that all Oregonians
wear seat belts was killed in the
House.
Body-inversion units recalled
The risk of possible serious injuries has
prompted the manufacturer of the Ever Young
BackExerciser to recall the body-inversion ex
ercise device, several units of which have been
sold in the Eugene area, according to manufac
turer reports.
The device, manufactured by Shinn Fu
Co. of Taiwan, consists of a free-standing
frame with a backrest and ankieholders. The
backrest pivots to suspend the user upside
down by the ankles.
Shinn Fu Co. has received reports of
several instances in which the rivets attaching
the ankle holders to the frame have broken,
causing the user to fall head-first. Users could
suffer head and spinal injuries ranging from
fractures to possible paralysis.
Anyone who has purchased BackExerciser
is encouraged to call (206) 575-1567. an
emergency telephone number established to
accept collect calls from customers or from
others who know the whereabouts of owners.
Users of this equipment are urged to stop
using it. Arrangements will be made to have
the equipment returned to the dealer or
manufacturer and to compensate consumers
who have bought it.
Because of the product’s design, it cannot
be repaired safely, the manufacturer reports.
Although there are several other body
inversion devices on the market that appear
similar to or almost identical to the Ever
Young BackExerciser. the recall is limited to
the BackExerciser.
Gypsy Moths
The Joint Ways and Means
Committee approved a bill
(House Bill 2044) Friday
authorizing the state
Agriculture Department to
spend an expected $7.3 million
in federal aid to combat gypsy
moths in Lane County. The
measure now goes to the House.
The anticipated federal aid is
in addition to $4 million in state
money that will be used to buy a
bacterial insecticide to fight a
Lane County outbreak of the
plant-eating moths.
Aerial spraying is expected to
be conducted at the end of this
month and in early May, when
the insects are in the caterpillar
stage.
Miscellaneous
Gov. Vic Atiyeh said he
would veto a bill (House Bill
2714) approved by the House
Transportation Committee that
would raise the speed limit on
Oregon freeways from 55 mph
to 65 mph. Under the bill, a
nominal $5 fine would be levied
for exceeding the the speed
limit by 10 mph.
The Senate passed a bill (SB
136) that would require the state
Lottery Commission to submit
its budget for approval by the
Legislature. Oregon voters ap
proved the lottery in November,
and tickets for an “instant win
ner” lottery game go on sale
April 25.
Learning Resourses Center
holds new-student workshop
Susan Lesyk, acting director of the Learning Resources Center,
will conduct a workshop for new students Tuesday that will ex
plain services available through the center.
The workshop is designed to help students become familiar
with the center and to learn time-management techniques. Par
ticipants also may sign up for individual tutoring if desired.
' ‘The workshop is intended for any University student who is
unacquainted with these services,” says Eric Bressman, an orienta
tion program coordinator. ‘‘Part of the reason we’re doing this is
that our survey of students who enrolled last term showed that one
of their biggest interests was in finding out more about this area.”
The workshop, sponsored by the Spring Orientation Host Pro
gram, will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the EMU Forum Room. For
more information, contact Bressman or Sue Gray at 686-3218.
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