Reagan Ends Canada Trip With Vow of Partnership : Signs Air Defense Pact, Talks of Long Friendship

QUEBEC —  President Reagan, declaring that he had established a “new partnership” with Canada, today wrapped up his two-day summit with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Trying his hand at a bit of French in this French-speaking provincial capital, Reagan declared, “My friends, the eyes of all America are on Canada.”

Saying that no other ally is as important to the United States as its northern neighbor, Reagan added, still in French: “We are proud to stand watch with you and together we shall keep our people free, secure and at peace. Above all, we are friends, and friends we shall always be.”

During 90 minutes of talks, Reagan reportedly told Mulroney today that he believes a U.S.-Soviet summit “would be useful” now that Mikhail S. Gorbachev has become leader of the Soviet Union.

‘Substantive’ Talks Possible

A U.S. official said Reagan “felt if Mr. Gorbachev is ready, they could have a real, substantive meeting at this point.”

At the conclusion of their meeting, Reagan and Mulroney signed agreements to modernize the North American air defense system and work toward further relaxation of trade barriers between the two trading partners and neighbors.

They also ratified a new treaty to end years of controversy between the two nations’ Pacific salmon fishing industries and signed a treaty for mutual law enforcement assistance.

In a speech to federal and provincial leaders, Reagan told Canada’s new Conservative leader, “Mr. Prime Minister, I’m confident there isn’t an area where you and I cannot reach an agreement for the good of our two countries.”

‘New Era in Relations’

Mulroney toasted Reagan, saying the summit “marks a new era in relations between Canada and the United States.”

Earlier, Reagan was queried about whether U.S. missiles might be based in Canada. The President replied that such reports are “not true.” The question referred to an interview given earlier in the day by Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, who was asked about the basing of missile launchers in Canada. Weinberger said such launchers might be placed in Canada.

White House spokesman Larry Speakes stressed that any such action would be a “Canadian decision.”

At the outset of their two days of talks, Reagan and Mulroney defused the one explosive issue dividing their governments by appointing special envoys to study the problem of acid rain pollution and report back to them within a year.

‘Face-Saving Gesture’

The Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain, an umbrella group of business, tourism and conservation groups, dismissed the move as “a face-saving gesture for the President, who remains committed to the use of the North American environment as a garbage dump.”