Quayle, in Europe, Vows Help for ‘Fragile’ Reforms

Vice President Dan Quayle, at the outset of a three-nation tour of European capitals, pledged Monday that the United States will continue to support the drive for democracy in Eastern Europe and European unity.

“These revolutionary gains are fragile,” he said of what he termed the “dramatic changes” in Eastern Europe. “They need not just our encouragement but our sustained support.”

Quayle spoke before leaders of both houses of the Italian Parliament at a “Salute to Eisenhower” ceremony in a salon of the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament’s lower house.

Quayle’s European trip--his first visit to Europe as vice president--is part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of World War II allied forces in Europe and President of the United States from 1953 to 1961.

Quayle also called on members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to consider new tasks for the alliance in a changing Europe. “As NATO adopts new missions, and Europe faces new challenges, the ‘European pillar’ of the alliance is likely to be strengthened,” he said.

He met later with Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti over lunch at the Villa Madama government guest house. Afterward, he flew by helicopter to the U.S. aircraft carrier Eisenhower at sea off Anzio, a port south of Rome where Allied forces on Jan. 22, 1944, invaded to fight German occupation troops.

Quayle later flew to London, where he is to meet today with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He also plans to call on Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd before leaving for Paris.