Soviets say US has asked for formal OK of envoy

Soviet sources say the Reagan admministration has asked for argreement, or formal approval by the host country, of a candidate for new US ambassador to Moscow, Monitor correspondent Ned Temko reports.

The candidate is the current ambassador to Paris, Arthur Hartman. He would succeed charge d'affaires Jack Matlock, who has been running the embassy on an interim basis since Mr. Reagan's inauguration. US Embassy officials declined comment on the report.

The appointment of a new ambassador is long overdue, illustrating the current chill in US-Soviet relations.