Better Lines of Communication

Through all the thaws and chills of Soviet-American relations, one channel has remained open for 21years: the Moscow-Washington hotline. This week, after nearly a year of sporadic negotiating, the two countries are expected to sign a pact to modernize the outmoded equipment. Most recently upgraded in 1976, the teleprinters are able to send material at the sluggish rate of 66 words-a- minute. The new system will permit almost instant transmission of texts, maps and photos. While hardly a diplomatic break through, the accord represents the only substantively new superpower agreement since Reagan took office; with the more critical talks on nuclear arms in limbo, the White House hopes the hot-line agreement may send a message, however modest, to U.S. voters that Reagan is able to deal with the Soviets.

The Administration last week also began its first formal negotiations with Cuba since taking office. On the agenda at a New York City meeting: resumption of talks, stalled early in 1981, concerning the return of some 1,000 criminals and mentally ill individuals who were among the 125,000 refugees who arrived in a 1980 boat lift from the Cuban port of Mariel. Havana wants to discuss U.S. acceptance of up to 15,000 Cubans who have Fidel Castro's permission to emigrate.