To the Editor:

It was thoughtful of you to send me the advance copy of Edward N. Luttwak’s article, “Why Arms Control Has Failed” [January]. I regret, however, that I cannot regard this as a serious analysis of the problems and consequences of arms-control efforts.

Paul C. Warnke
Director
United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
Washington, D.C.

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Edward N. Luttwak writes:

Since Paul C. Warnke is now the principal arms-control official of the United States government, I have read the full corpus of his writings on arms control in an earnest attempt to ascertain what “serious analysis” might be. It appears that Mr. Warnke believes that the entire problem of limiting international armaments is merely one of controlling animalistic impulses, and that the United States, as the more accomplished nation, should lead the way by example. My own view, however, is that the leaders of the Soviet Union have a strategy, and that it is purposeful, and that some of its objectives may be attained by inducing precisely those beliefs that Mr. Warnke expresses in his writings. It was for this reason that so many Senators voted against his nomination, and not because of the ad hominem attacks relayed by the less scrupulous among the columnists. Mr. Warnke’s refusal to controvert the arguments I advanced and his resort to a cavalier dismissal do not augur well for the great national debate on SALT that is now approaching.