QUESTION
-19-
As you say, there have been reports that the Western
Alliance is not all behind Star Wars, Did the President
express any concern to you about the need for a united front
going into these talks in January?
PRIME MINISTER
What do you call Star Wars and where did the expression
come from? It is not star
wars, if I might say so. It
isresearch on strategic defence. I agree with going ahead on
research for strategic defence.
QUESTION
So there would be no talk of concern on the President's
part that there was not a united Western front going into the
talks?
PRIME MINISTER
I think, if you approve of the concept of balance, you
will have to go ahead with research on stratetic defence,
because otherwise the United States may get out of balance, in
view of the anti-satellite capability of the Soviet Union -
anti-satellite satellite capability of the Soviet Union - and
the work which she is doing and, in particular, on the big
radars and on one or two other things which have been mentioned.
So if you agree with the concept of balance, the United States
will have to go ahead with that research and so I think if we
get it across that way there should be a pretty well united
front.
"