The World - News from Jan. 15, 1988

U.S. officials in Washington said that the Reagan Administration has decided after protracted negotiations to bow to Spanish demands and withdraw 72 U.S. fighter jets from a base outside Madrid. The move is the first unilateral reduction of U.S. forces ordered by a European ally since France closed bases in 1966 and withdrew militarily from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Early last month, Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez broke off negotiations and said the three F-16 squadrons must be withdrawn within 3 1/2 years. One Administration official told the Washington Post that in exchange for withdrawing the jets, the United States obtained some concessions from Spain on issues he refused to specify.