Reagan takes a rest

Press, 10 November 1980, Page 8

Reagan takes a rest

NZPA-Reuter Washington

President-elect Ronald Reagan began a week of “complete rest” yesterday at his Santa Barbara ranch to recuperate from the months of campaigning that culminated in his election triumph. He has worked since his election to get his transition team set up, and to explain some of the policies he intends to follow.

The team, which will oversee the transfer of

power, will begin its work this week in Washington, with Mr Jack Watson as White House liaison.

The team will study Government files and will make precise recommendations for following Mr Reagan’s policies.

After his holiday Mr Reagan will go to Washington, where he will meet President Carter, confer with members of the transition team and establish contacts with several congressmen, a Reagan spokesman said.

The announcement of Mr Reagan’s Cabinet is not expected to be made until early next month. Mr Reagan’s foreign policy adviser said yesterday that the Kremlin should feel comfortable in dealing with the president-elect. Mr Reagan would take special pains to identify mutual interests and seriously seek balanced, verifiable, realistic arms control, Mr Richard Allen told “Newsweek” magazine. “The Soviet leaders have nothing to fear from such a proposal. In my view (they) should feel comfortable in dealing; with the Reagan Administration.”

Mr Allen, tipped as a successor to Dr Zbigniew Brezinski as National Security Adviser, told “Newsweek” that Mr Reagan saw better consultations with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Pacific allies as a very high priority and would consult them when arms control talks with Moscow reopened.