White House Stands by Its Account of Kinnock Talks

The White House today defended its account of President Reagan’s meeting with leaders of the British Labor Party, which a Labor spokesman said was distorted to help Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s reelection chances.

Presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater also said he did not hear Reagan address Denis Healey, the party’s deputy leader, as “Mr. Ambassador,” as Healey said in a television interview in London on Sunday.

Party leader Neal Kinnock and Healey, accompanied by British Ambassador Sir Antony Acland, met with Reagan at the White House on Friday.

Shortly after the session Fitzwater said: “Mr. Kinnock raised Labor’s proposal for unilateral nuclear disarmament and the need for a buildup in conventional forces. The President made clear that he had no intention of intervening in Britain’s domestic affairs, but he said we disagree with Labor’s defense policy.”

In his television interview, Healey said, “What does seem to be the case is that some of President Reagan’s advisers thought it would be a good idea to try and help Mrs. Thatcher in her election battle by being unkind to the Labor Party.”

Asked again today about the meeting, Fitzwater said: “I don’t have anything to add. The statement was Friday. It was correct.”

Healey also said in the interview that Reagan greeted him with the words, “Nice to see you again, Mr. Ambassador,” while Acland stood by. Healey said he doesn’t look anything like the ambassador, who he said has met with the President at least 10 times.

Asked about this account, Fitzwater, said: “I didn’t catch that if he did. I was there.”