Reagan to Push ‘Star Wars’ Even After Arms Ban

President Reagan says he will continue to develop the “Star Wars” space defense program even if the two superpowers come to an agreement to eliminate offensive nuclear weapons.

It was the first time that Reagan had explicitly said he would not limit research on the program even if the Soviet Union met his demands on reducing offensive missiles.

In an interview published in today’s editions of the New York Times, Reagan also said for the first time that he believes such defenses would be needed even if the two powers agreed to abolish all nuclear weapons.

The President drew a distinction, however, between research and deployment of a defense system. He said the United States would conduct research even if the Soviet Union agreed to deep cuts in offensive weapons.

Might ‘Internationalize’ It

If research indicated that such a system could be built, Reagan said he would be willing to talk with the Soviets about the possibility of “internationalizing” such defense systems before deployment.

“In other words, to negotiate then before there would be any deployment or anything to make sure that they understood that we weren’t trying to create the ability of a first strike ourselves, that our goal was still the elimination of nuclear weapons,” Reagan said.

The government plans to spend $26 billion in exploratory research on the “Star Wars” plan.

“I want a defense that simply says that if somebody starts pushing the button on those weapons, we’ve got a good chance of keeping all or at least the bulk of them from getting to the target,” Reagan said.

In the interview, Reagan also said:

--New covert aid to the insurgent forces in Nicaragua is “necessary” and “desirable” because “the Sandinista government seized power out of the barrel of a gun.”

‘Bad Judgment’

--The South Korean government and the Americans escorting exiled South Korean opposition leader Kim Dae Jung are both to blame for the airport melee that occurred when Kim return to his homeland. “There was bad judgment on both sides,” Reagan said.

--He is “not greatly optimistic” about Fidel Castro’s comments for improved relations between Cuba and the United States. “We’ve heard this before. Early in my Administration there were signals sent of this kind, and we took them up on it, and we tried to have some meetings with them, and nothing came of it.”

--He doesn’t believe peace in the Mideast can be achieved without King Hussein of Jordan.

--He would not now endorse Vice President George Bush for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination. “I’ll be like Scarlett O’Hara--I’ll think about it tomorrow.”