Won’t Quit on Contra Aid: Reagan

President Reagan, trying to reverse the House defeat of his proposal for military aid to Nicaraguan rebels, said today, “We will never give up.”

He told leaders of the insurgency, “We’re in this together.”

Reagan shared a White House stage with Adolfo Calero, Arturo Cruz and Alfonso Robelo, leaders of the Unified Nicaragua Opposition, before an audience of about 200 invited to the East Room because they support the President’s plan.

Calling aid to the rebels the single most important foreign policy question before Congress, Reagan quoted U.S. naval hero John Paul Jones: “ ‘We have not yet begun to fight.’

“We intend to bring this back to the House as many times as it takes to win--and we will win.”

Cuba Comparison

Reagan began his remarks by holding up a button reading, “If you like Cuba, you’ll love Nicaragua.”

He said Nicaragua’s Communist forces had been emboldened by Thursday’s House vote denying $100 million in aid to the rebels.

Turning to the rebel leaders, Reagan declared:

“We’re in this together. . . . You are the future of Central America, and today I give you my solemn pledge: I will not rest until freedom is given a fighting chance in Nicaragua.

“We’ll spare no effort and give no ground in supporting the democratic resistance in Nicaragua. Until these men are successful in their freedom struggle, there will be no peace in Central America and there will be no peace in our souls.”

As Reagan concluded, Calero shouted, “ Viva Reagan!”

Reagan also will devote his Saturday radio address to the subject of aid to the rebels, the White House said.

Senate Prospects

As for next week’s Senate vote, presidential spokesman Larry Speakes said, “We feel good about our prospects.” He said that there was “a fairly large pool of undecideds” in the Senate, and that Reagan would concentrate his efforts on them, probably beginning with telephone calls over the weekend.

Indeed, Senate Democratic leader Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia said he hoped for a “middle-ground” compromise and said he expects the Senate, “since it is Republican controlled, to give the President something.”

Such a middle-ground approach, Byrd said, would “exhaust whatever diplomatic channels there may be” before resorting to military aid for the rebels.

And White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan, expressing hope for eventual victory, said today: “The game isn’t over by a long shot.

Reagan loses battle but cause gains. Page 25.