Gorbachev, Bush Confer by Telephone : Diplomacy: The President called the 40-minute conversation on recent developments in Nicaragua and Eastern Europe ‘a good talk.’

President Bush said he and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev engaged in a “very constructive” 40-minute telephone conversation today on dramatic recent developments in Nicaragua and Eastern Europe.

While declining to give details of the talk, Bush told reporters flying with him aboard Air Force One to New York that “it was a good talk.”

“We’re going to continue to try to have consultations. We agreed these kinds of conversations are very useful. I think we need to do a little more of that kind of thing, and I think he agrees,” Bush said.

The President made the phone call, which had been arranged Tuesday at his request, shortly before leaving the White House on a four-day politicking trip that will wind up with a meeting in California with the prime minister of Japan.

“We touched on matters relating to Nicaragua and Central America, but also matters relating to changes in Europe,” Bush said.

Bush also said he thanked Gorbachev for the warm reception the Soviet president gave Secretary of State James A. Baker III on Baker’s trip to Moscow earlier this month.

Bush said he assured Gorbachev that he is committed to moving ahead on arms control negotiations under a timetable set up by Baker and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze.

The Administration hopes to move forward on three treaties with the Soviet Union this year: on nuclear strategic weapons, on conventional arms in Europe and on limiting chemical weapons.

Both sides have said they hope the strategic weapons treaty can be ready to be signed by Bush’s and Gorbachev’s summit in June.

The Soviet press agency Tass reported from Moscow that Bush and Gorbachev “had a telephone conversation today within the framework of regular opinion exchange.”

An official Soviet statement said the two leaders discussed some pressing international issues, including Nicaragua, problems of European security including German reunification and preparations for the upcoming Soviet-U.S. summit.

Bush, in his talk with reporters aboard Air Force One, did not identify any differences he might have had with Gorbachev in the conversation.

“It’s important that there be some confidentiality if we’re going to be able to speak as frankly as we did today.” he said.