Japanese Security Role

Q. What would you think of Japanese security role in the context of U.S.-Japanese cooperation vis-a-vis Soviet Union, who has begun to show a smile diplomacy toward Japan? Would you like Japan to expand any military role beyond 1,000 mile sealane defense which Japan is about to undertake?

The President. The United States views Japan as a cornerstone of our mutual security. The facilities made available to U.S. forces in Japan and U.S. access to those facilities are vital to the defense of our common interests in the Far East.

Japan's self-defense roles and missions, as described by former Prime Minister Suzuki in 1981, are to protect its territory, seas and skies, and its sealanes out to 1,000 nautical miles. The United States endorses these Japanese undertakings and hopes that Japan will attain the capability of fulfilling these roles and missions as soon as possible. Neither the United States nor, we believe, Japan seeks a broader military role beyond that of self-defense.

U.S.-Soviet Summit and Arms Control
Negotiations

Q. We are very much interested in the development of U.S.-Soviet relations. What is the prospect for this year's U.S.-Soviet summit under the situation in which the Soviets seem to link the summit to the nuclear test ban and the progress of the arms control talks? Would you accept September or even December as a timing for the summit if the Soviets insist on holding the second meeting this year in the United States? And how would you assess ongoing U.S.-Soviet arms control talks?

The President. We agreed at the Geneva summit to meet in the United States this year and again in the Soviet Union in 1987. We are encouraged by the fact that Secretary Shultz and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze will be meeting in May to discuss preparations.

The arms control negotiations have, unfortunately, not moved forward the way we had hoped. The Soviets have still not responded concretely to the proposals we made in November. In regard to the one area in the Soviet announcement of January 15 which offered some hope for progress,

INF, the U.S. has already tabled in Geneva a concrete new proposal to eliminate such weapons by the end of the decade. Here, too, the lack of a concrete Soviet response has been disappointing. Our negotiators are ready for serious bargaining, and if the Soviets show similar flexibility progress can be made.

Asian Stability and Economic
Development

Q. On the occasion of your visit to Indonesia and meeting with ASEAN leaders in advance of Tokyo summit, what policies would you state for stability and economic development of Asian countries, such as increased economic and military assistance to Aquino government of the Philippines after the change of the leadership in which the U.S. played an important role?

The President. Under President Soeharto's leadership, Indonesia has made impressive strides in economic development and become an increasingly active player on the world stage.

ASEAN is the central pillar of U.S. policy in Southeast Asia and an impressive example of cohesion and common purpose. We support ASEAN's strategy for bringing about a Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia and the restoration of Cambodian independence.

The U.S. shares with ASEAN a commitment to a free market system. We want to work together to strengthen that system and to resist protectionism.

We have discussed Philippine assistance needs with and priorities President Aquino's government and with other major bilateral and multilateral donors. We want to help the new Philippine Government meet pressing financial needs and bolster the efforts of democratic forces in that country to address the serious economic and security challenges facing them, including the threat posed by the Communist insurgency.

Korea

Q. Would you think of specific steps taken by the U.S. Government to ease ten

* Association for South East Asian Na

tions.

sions surrounding South Korea, who is sponsoring Asian games this summer and 1988 Olympic games?

The President. The future of the Korean peninsula, of course, is a matter primarily for the Korean people to decide. That is why the north-south dialog is so important. In our view, it is key to reducing tensions on the Korean peninsula. Therefore, we support that dialog and hope that North Korea will resume it as soon as possible.

Other initiatives designed to reduce tensions include the confidence-building measures we have proposed in the Military Armistice Commission at Panmunjom. These measures include proposals such as restoring the integrity of the Demilitarized Zone. We hope North Korea will address this problem in good faith.

We are pleased to see South Korea hosting important events like the Asian games and the Olympics. Looking toward the 1988 games, we will do what we can to ensure a successful Olympics.

Note: As printed above, the interview follows the text of the White House press release, which was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on April 11.

Death of Congressman Joseph P. Addabbo of New York

Statement by the President. April 11, 1986

The Nation's Capital is saddened today over the death of Joseph Addabbo, a congressional leader who aggressively fought for his ideals for more than 25 years in the House of Representatives. Congressman Addabbo was a strong voice for policies which he believed would make this a more peaceful world. He rose to prominence in the early 1970's and, by the end of that decade, was recognized as one of the leading players in the development of American military policy.

As chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, his strong convictions and unrelenting opposition to what he considered ineffective defense spending made him a powerful force on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Addabbo was widely respected for his knowledge of defense issues even by those who disagreed with him. His genial style was in keeping with the best traditions of American politics. He will be missed by those he represented in New York's 6th District and by all who worked with him.

Digest of Other

White House Announcements

The following list includes the President's public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue.

April 6

The President returned to Washington, DC, after traveling to New Orleans, LA, to address a fundraiser for Congressman W. Henson Moore, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, and spending 10 days at Rancho del Cielo, his ranch near Santa Barbara, CA.

April 7

The President met at the White House with:

-members of the White House staff; -Secretary of State George P. Shultz, to receive the Secretary's report on his recent trip to Europe;

-Congressmen Dante B. Fascell of Florida and William S. Broomfield of Michigan, to receive their report on their trip to the Soviet Union and meeting with General Secretary Gorbachev; -Gen. Matthew P. Caulfield, the departing Deputy Director of the White House Military Office.

In the afternoon, the President attended the opening day of the 1986 baseball season at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. The President and 12-year-old Brian Gray, a cystic fibrosis patient at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, threw the first balls of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cleveland Indians.

April 8

The President met at the White House with:

-members of the White House staff; -Soviet Ambassador Anatoly F. Dobrynin, to discuss the prospective upcoming U.S.-U.S.S.R. summit in the United States and a preparatory meeting between Secretary of State George

P. Shultz and Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard A. Shevardnadze. In the evening, the President hosted a reception for the Advertising Council in the Residence at the White House.

The President transmitted to the Congress the annual report of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Council on the Arts for fiscal year 1985.

April 9

The President met at the White House with:

-members of the White House staff; -the Republican congressional leadership;

-Secretary of State George P. Shultz. The President announced his intention to designate Robert W. Searby, Deputy Under Secretary of Labor for International Affairs, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

April 10

The President met at the White House with:

-members of the White House staff; -the Domestic Policy Council, for the presentation of the National Drug Enforcement Policy Board's report;

-a group of Democratic Congressmen, to discuss aid to the contras.

April 11

The President met at the White House with:

-members of the White House staff; -Ann Armstrong, Chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board;

-Secretary of State George P. Shultz.

In the afternoon, the President left the White House for a weekend stay at Camp David, MD.

The White House announced that the President of Uruguay, Julio Maria Sanguinetti, has accepted an invitation from President Reagan for a state visit to the United States. The two Presidents will meet on June 17 and will discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest to both countries.

provide $6 million to the Department of The President requested the Congress to Agriculture's Dairy Indemnity Program to make payments to dairy farmers and milk processors in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma to indemnify them for milk products contaminated by the pesticide heptachlor. This increase would be offset by a reduction in the limitation on direct loans in the Rural Housing Fund.

The President transmitted appropriation requests for the legislative branch and an appropriations language request for the Department of Transportation.

Nominations

Submitted to the Senate

The following list does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of Foreign Service officers.

Submitted April 7

Frank W. Donaldson,

of Alabama, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama for the term of 4 years (reappointment).

Henry E. Hudson,

of Virginia, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia for the term of 4 years, vice Elsie L. Munsell, resigned.

James P. Jonker,

of Iowa, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa for the term of 4 years (reappointment).