Summit of a Strong Seven

Meeting at Montebello, Western leaders carry on a dialogue of promise

The final communiqué had been drafted. The host, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was briskly pushing the seventh annual conference of leaders of the major industrialized democracies toward its prearranged conclusion. But then Ronald Reagan, a novice at high-level summitry, urged that a mild sentence limiting the sale of high-technology products to the Soviet Union be made tougher. Trudeau curtly reminded the President that reopening the issue was out of order. "Aw shucks," replied Reagan. "This is my first summit, and maybe I don't know the rules as well as I should. If I'm out of line, I'm out of line." Disarmed by Reagan's humble manner, Trudeau relaxed and relented. The sentence in question was minutely strengthened.

Even more than the economic issues that sharply divide the allied nations, uncertainty about how seven strong personalities would interact lent an air of suspense to the 2½-day conference. In fact, the personalities meshed surprisingly well, considering the fact that four of the leaders were newcomers to a series of get-togethers that began in Rambouillet, France, in 1975. And, while none of the nations reversed directions, their leaders managed to disagree without creating personal antagonism. That newly developed rapport, and the willingness of the leaders to respect one another's concerns, could well prove invaluable in the difficult months ahead. They must continue to grapple with conflicting economic priorities and differing views on the pace and nature of arms limitation talks and trade with the Soviet Union.

The leaders convened in the forested isolation of Le Château Montebello, 40 miles down the Ottawa River from Canada's capital. The formal sessions were held across a 22-ft. round oak table that cost $12,000. Each leader, seated in a red velour swivel chair, was flanked by his top foreign affairs and economic advisers. All wore earphones to hear translations, and each could sip Vichy or Perrier water, 7-Up or Coke.

Tracing the mood of the conference, a French official summed up, "On a meter, the needle started way over at 'conflict' and moved into the range of 'harmony.' " Reagan's top aides, including Secretary of State Alexander Haig, were almost embarrassingly effusive in their praise of the President's performance.

Somewhat more credibly, European participants credited Reagan's low-key and amiable personality with easing tensions. Many of them had openly wondered beforehand whether the President knew enough about global affairs to represent a superpower in such select company. His steady, unabrasive performance erased many of their doubts.

"Reagan turned out to be a very good communicator, even with some elements of a statesman," said one senior European official. Shrugged an Italian participant: "He's such an attractive leader —what can you do?" Added Allan MacEachen, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister: "We were genuinely impressed with his obvious conviction about what he is doing. There is no vacillation in his approach, no self-doubting. Through his friendliness, a lot of heat was removed from the summit."