The President has decided, the adviser said, that a proliferation of shorter-range systems does not have a reassuring effect.

The United States has given a mixed reception to Soviet hints regarding the possible elimination of the shorter-range systems.

But the letter acknowledged the possible need for two other steps to match Soviet superiority in shorter-range systems.

The Government has tried to keep the details of its position on shorter-range systems from the West German public.

He said that the United States and the Soviet Union should commit themselves to immediate follow-up negotiations to reduce shorter-range nuclear systems.

Mr. Gorbachev's proposals included a freeze in shorter-range systems, which the President has opposed.

Bonn is particularly troubled by Soviet shorter-range systems stationed in East Germany and Czechoslovakia that are for the most part targeted on West Germany.

Telefunken set up a radar business in 1933 based on Hollmann's work and developed a much shorter-range gun-laying system called Würzburg.

Mr. Glitman predicted that "one way or another" there would be a commitment for follow-up negotiations on shorter-range systems.

In private, he is known to believe that new American shorter-range systems might have to be stationed in West Germany to match the Soviet Union's superiority.