Word: reagans
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...judgment of Reagan and his lieutenants, however, the risk of coming down from the summit without any kind of significant agreement was increasing anyway. According to senior U.S. officials, Soviet representatives have been unexpectedly balky in preparing even the minor pacts that were expected to be approved in Geneva, such as agreements to open more consulates, increase scientific and cultural exchanges and resume direct airline flights between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Some White House ears detect an unspoken Kremlin message: no little deals without a big deal on arms...
Prime Minister Bettino Craxi of Italy did lavish effusive praise on Reagan's speech in a bilateral meeting on Thursday. But then Craxi and Reagan were both eager to demonstrate renewed friendship after the angry exchanges over the Achille Lauro hijacking and the Italian release of Suspected Plotter Abul Abbas that led to the fall of Craxi's government (he is now forming a new one). Thatcher was more reserved. She told British reporters that Reagan's proposal for a regional peace process "requires a great deal of thinking before we dash into comments...
Allied leaders who must contend with large and vocal antinuclear movements within their own countries also expressed worry that Reagan is not countering Soviet arms-reduction proposals vigorously enough. West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was impressed by Reagan's private notes, which he showed the allies, detailing various arms-control scenarios that might be played out at the summit. But Thatcher, supported by Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, thought more was required. A spokesman quoted her as telling Reagan at the minisummit that "you have to re-present or reformulate your arms-control position before Geneva or there will...
...Reagan's initiative on regional issues was, his advisers say, only the first step in an effort to emphasize other issues besides arms control before next month's summit. In his U.N. address, the President portentously pledged that "before leaving for Geneva, I shall make major new proposals" to overcome the division of Europe, which, he said, "nothing can justify." Advisers indicate that "major" might have been an overstatement; the proposals are likely to involve more open communications and greater movement across East-West borders. Then there will be human rights, always a touchy topic for any Soviet leader...
There is one intimation of optimism about the upcoming summit: the scrimmaging is being conducted with reasonable civility on both sides. Reagan pulled no punches at the U.N. in propounding his view that the Soviet Union is still an expansionist dictatorship, but his sober rhetoric lacked the strident edge so notable during his first term. Shevardnadze, for his part, was quite diplomatic when asked if he found any encouraging aspects to Reagan's speech. "If there were no positive seeds," said the smooth Soviet as his private talk with Reagan was about to begin, "we would not have...