Reagan, Gorbachev Upbeat but Stress Arms Differences : Show No Softening on ‘Star Wars’

On the eve of their first encounter, President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev agreed today to work on a way to curb the nuclear arms race at their summit but differences over “Star Wars” resurfaced.

Gorbachev arrived in the summit city in frigid Moscow-like weather a little more than 22 hours before he meets Reagan in the 10th superpower summit since World War II.

In a brief airport arrival speech, Gorbachev expressed his willingness to work for “positive results” and then lit into “Star Wars”--the popular name for Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.

‘Star Wars’ Reference

“First and foremost is the question of what can be done to halt the unprecedented arms race in the world and its extension to new spheres,” Gorbachev said in an evident reference to “Star Wars,” which Reagan envisions as a space-based defensive shield against incoming nuclear missiles.

When asked to comment on Gorbachev’s comments, Reagan replied: “We both must have the same intention. If he feels as strongly that way as I do, we’ll end the arms race.”

Reagan has written down his own ideas on an arms control agenda and will present them to Gorbachev in their first face-to-face meeting Tuesday morning, national security adviser Robert C. McFarlane said.

“It will be vintage President Reagan,” he added.

Reagan had a private day today preparing for the first meeting, appearing in public only once for the official Swiss welcoming ceremony at Le Reposoir, an 18th-Century mansion renowned for its French gardens.

In a brief question period, he said he and Gorbachev have the “same intention” but stuck by his “Star Wars” position--it is not a bargaining chip in arms control negotiations.

“I think when it’s explained to him, he’ll find that it can help us end the arms race,” he said.

Meeting at Private Chateau

The two men will meet first for two hours Tuesday morning at the Villa Fleur d’Eau, a private chateau on Lake Geneva being used for the meeting to which the United States will be host.

A second two-hour meeting will be held Tuesday afternoon and the whole process will be repeated Wednesday at the Soviet mission.

A top U.S. official said the leaders may get together again Thursday before Reagan flies back to the United States to deliver an address to the nation. But McFarlane said no decision had been made.

On his arrival, Gorbachev said his summit goal was to “relieve mankind of the threat of nuclear war and to ensure peace and further fruitful cooperation between peoples.”

“The peoples of the Soviet Union and the United States of America, along with those in other countries, expect positive results from the Geneva meeting,” he added. “I can assure you that on our part we shall seek precisely such an outcome of this important meeting.”

Armored Cars and Tanks

Security was tight around the city. Armored cars and tanks sat on the runway at the airport as Gorbachev’s Aeroflot jet landed.

While arms control will be the main focus of the summit, the sides are also expected to bring up human rights and other issues. Top officials on both sides are slightly more optimistic about the outcome.

Secretary of State George P. Shultz said, “I think there are certainly some bilateral matters that are practically settled.”