America From Abroad : Dear Mr. President

Foreign policy may have played second fiddle--or second saxophone--to domestic problems in the U.S. presidential campaign that culminates today. But in fact, whether it turns out to be President Bush, President Clinton or President Perot, the man who occupies the White House for the next four years will spend a lot of that time coping with global issues.

What kind of advice is the winner likely to hear from the men and women who are paid to be America’s eyes and ears in foreign capitals?

World Report asked Times correspondents in Berlin, Brussels, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Toronto and Tokyo to step into the shoes of the political secretaries of the American embassies in those cities and offer some tips in a memo to the new President . . .

LONDON

‘In the British, we have always found a steadfast ally . . .’

You are inheriting a special relationship with the United Kingdom that has existed throughout the postwar world and has been reaffirmed by every U.S. Administration.

Foreign policy has not been an important issue in the election campaign, but Britons and other Europeans hope you will restore it to a matter of some priority. Twice before in this century, America was dragged into world wars, partly because we ignored European political developments.

In the British we have always found a steadfast ally, and you should reaffirm our relationship by seeing Prime Minister John Major as soon as feasible. In Britain, the United States has a friend at the heart of the European Community, which, with the start of the single market next year, will rank as an economic superpower.

The next few weeks will see the Major government going through a difficult and delicate time as it seeks ratification of the Maastricht Treaty for European union while facing opposition inside the Conservative Party. So be patient with our British cousins.

Like the citizens of other European nations, the British would like to see you push for a compromise solution to the current GATT tariff negotiations, a genuine concern here. A trade agreement is viewed here as an important step to get Europe out of its economic recession.

Know that the troubles in Northern Ireland are a diplomatic minefield. Any move seen as U.S. interference would be deeply resented here.

The British appreciate being kept in the picture on any significant changes in U.S. government attitudes. Remember, the British have taken political risks in supporting the United States in controversial policies, such as the Libyan raid. And Britain was America’s strongest supporter in the Gulf War.

As for wider security issues, reaffirm your support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. With its new connection to the various states of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, NATO remains uniquely able to further continental stability.

And rest assured, for all the occasional complaints about America--or Americans--on their soil, Europeans still look to the United States for leadership and protection.