Reagan Calls on Shamir to Cooperate With U.S. Probes : Urges Talks With Proper Authorities

President Reagan called on Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir today to cooperate with White House and congressional inquiries into secret American weapons deliveries to Iran.

A senior U.S. official said that “the point was made” by Reagan to Shamir and that the President suggested Israel “get in touch with the proper authorities.”

The Israeli government has offered to provide written statements to U.S. investigators but not to provide witnesses. The U.S. official, who briefed reporters under rules that gave him anonymity, declined to say whether that arrangement was satisfactory.

“I am not taking any position,” he said.

No Mention of Request

Reagan did not mention his request for Israel’s cooperation in a farewell statement after seeing Shamir for two hours in the Oval Office and over lunch.

But the official said afterward: “We urged that the Israeli government cooperate, and we have assisted the Israeli authorities in getting in touch with the appropriate investigating bodies here. They said they will get in touch and will cooperate.”

On another touchy issue, Reagan publicly urged Shamir to consider an international conference as a way to hold negotiations for a Middle East settlement.

The prime minister is opposed to the idea, preferring instead to deal directly with Jordan and Palestinian Arabs who live under Israel’s jurisdiction.

Goal Is Direct Negotiations

“Any reasonable means, including an international conference, should be considered,” Reagan said. But he stressed his goal also is direct negotiations between Israel and its neighbors.

“The United States remains ready to be an active partner in any serious peace effort,” Reagan said in his statement.

Shamir called the pursuit of peace “a noble goal.” But he made no reference to a peace conference, which he condemned on Tuesday as a Soviet invention.

In his statement, Reagan acknowledged discussing Iran with the visiting Israeli leader. He said he and Shamir had agreed “on the importance of looking to the future instead of dwelling on the past.”

Sensitive Issue

The issue is a sensitive one for both Reagan and Shamir. Both their governments delivered arms to Tehran, even while condemning the fundamentalist Muslim government as a supporter of terrorism.

In planning for Shamir’s visit, U.S. officials said they hoped to keep the issue in the background.

Earlier today, posing for pictures with Shamir in the Oval Office, Reagan shunned questions from reporters about the Iran arms deal and prospects for a Mideast peace conference.

Shamir was not asked any questions during the brief session and did not volunteer any comments.

Contradictions From Aides

Current and former White House aides have contradicted each other on whether Reagan authorized in advance a 1985 shipment of arms to Iran by Israel.

Shamir was not getting any heat on the arms deals from the Administration on Tuesday. Secretary of State George P. Shultz said then that he had touched on the scandal “very, very briefly” in a meeting with the visiting Israeli leader at the State Department that lasted more than two hours.