Reagan aide in cash probe

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 8

Reagan aide in cash probe

NZPA-Reuter Washington

Richard Allen, President Reagan’s chief foreign-policy adviser, yesterday flatly denied suggestions that he had solicited or expected to receive payment from a Japanese magazine for an interview with Mrs Reagan.

In a brief statement released by the White House, Mr Allen reiterated that he did not arrange the interview by the “Shufu No Tomo,” a widely read women’s monthly magazine. Mr Allen was responding to a report from Tokyo in the “Washington Post.” The influential newspaper quoted an unidentified staff member of the magazine as- saying the SUSIOOO payment was made to Mr Allen.

The payment came after the person who arranged the interview approached the magazine and asked what kind of gratuity would be forthcoming once the interview was granted, the “Post” said.

The “Post” did not identify the person who arranged the interview.

The “Post” report quoted the magazine staff member as saying in a telephone interview that, the money was meant as an honorarium to Mrs Reagan for granting the interview. Mr Allen said: “As to whether I asked for or ever expected to receive any honorarium, gratuity or fee, the answer is categorically no. Nor was such a matter ever raised with me by anyone at any time. “As to whether I actually arranged the meeting, the answer is likewise no,” he added. Mr Allen in comments to the press earlier said he took the money and gave it to a secretary because he understood such practices to be a Japanese custom and refusal to accept might be embarrassing to the journalist. The money had been put in a safe and he had forgotten about it for eight months.

Both Mr Allen and the White House in an accompanying statement said they would not comment further on the subject because the Justice Department was still investigating the matter.

But Mr Allen added in his statement yesterday that while he did not arrange the interview, he did receive the initial request for the interview from the wife of an old friend.