Reagan Believes Assad Can Aid in Freeing Kidnaped 7

President Reagan believes Syrian President Hafez Assad can help win the release of seven kidnaped Americans in Lebanon and plans to work with him again to secure their freedom, a top White House official said today.

National security affairs adviser Robert C. McFarlane said, “I thought he (Assad) acted constructively in the hostage situation” in which 39 Americans on board TWA Flight 847 were released after being held 16 days by Shia militiamen.

McFarlane made the remarks before a quick meeting with Reagan as the President and First Lady departed for Camp David, Md., for a relaxed weekend and celebration Saturday of her 64th birthday.

The Administration has insisted it is making every effort to secure the release of seven Americans still being held in Beirut. All were kidnaped individually long before the TWA hijacking.

Reagan Pressured

Reagan is under increasing pressure to produce results in the wake of the hijacking and subsequent release of the 39 Americans.

He is expected to try to work closely again with Assad despite differences between the two government’s approaches to some Middle East problems and the Syrian leader’s desire to extend his influence in the region.

Assad acted as a go-between during the Beirut hostage crisis and worked out the formula for the release of the hostages.

“I would expect we could work together,” McFarlane said of Assad. “He is in a position to influence their release.”

However, the Washington Post reported today that Assad apparently “didn’t like being told” in “straight talk” by Reagan that the United States expects his help in freeing the seven Americans.

Assad Response Cool

Citing unidentified Administration sources, the newspaper said Assad’s cool response to Reagan’s 15-minute phone call earlier this week could indicate he intends to be less cooperative in the future.