Ending SALT Big ‘Blunder’ --Gromyko : He Asks Britain for Help in Retaining Adherence by U.S. : Gromyko Calls Move to Ignore SALT ‘Blunder’

MOSCOW —  President Andrei A. Gromyko said today that President Reagan’s announcement that the United States may soon exceed SALT II arms limits is a “major blunder” not supported by the American people.

In a meeting today with a group of British members of Parliament, Gromyko also appealed to Britain to try to influence the United States not to abandon the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.

“The SALT II treaty has been dealt blow after blow by the United States and the latest blow is an explosive charge under it,” British Labor Deputy Martin Flannery quoted Gromyko as telling the British lawmakers during a 2 1/2-hour meeting at the Kremlin.

“This is undoubtedly a major blunder,” the former Soviet foreign minister was quoted as saying.

Politicians vs. People

“We do not believe the American people want to bury this treaty. We make a distinction between the American people and the politicians,” Gromyko said.

The delegation said Gromyko wanted Britain to attempt to persuade Reagan to change his mind.

A Soviet news commentary on the U.S. position, meanwhile, said Washington had posed a challenge to the entire world, particularly Europe, in threatening to end adherence to SALT II.

“The Soviet government has stated that it will not allow military-strategic parity to be broken,” the Soviet press agency Novosti said in its commentary. “In its complete disregard of the lawful interests of all countries working for a world without nuclear weapons, the U.S. challenges European nations and the whole world.”

The Novosti commentary recounted numerous disarmament proposals by Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev. It said the proposals were in keeping with the joint statement by Gorbachev and Reagan at their Geneva summit in November, 1985, pledging to accelerate work toward disarmament.

Nuclear Tests Hit

Novosti said the United States consistently disregarded the Geneva statement, particularly by carrying out new nuclear tests connected with the Strategic Defense Initiative to place anti-missile weapons in space.

Reagan said last week that in making decisions on nuclear deployments, the United States will not feel bound by SALT II ceilings. The U.S. Senate never ratified the treaty, but both sides maintain that they have been observing its provisions.

On Saturday, a Soviet government statement said Moscow will not adhere to the 1979 treaty the moment the United States exceeds its limits.

The Soviet statement also indicated that Reagan’s announcement did not bode well for a superpower summit, which has not been scheduled.

On Sunday, Secretary of State George P. Shultz said U.S. compliance with SALT II was over. (Story on Page 4.)