
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 18, 1993                   TAG: 9310180061
SECTION: NATL/INTL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LONDON                                LENGTH: Short

THATCHER SAYS IN BOOK SHE PREFERRED REAGAN

Margaret Thatcher, in her memoirs released Sunday, said her relations with President Bush were "somewhat strained." But with President Reagan the chemistry never failed - even when she chewed him out.

In "The Downing Street Years," the former prime minister said Bush shared her opposition to swift German unification - at first.

"I found myself dealing with an administration which saw Germany as its main European partner in leadership, which encouraged the integration of Europe . . . and which sometimes seemed to underestimate the need for a strong nuclear defense," Thatcher, 68, wrote. "I felt I could not always rely on American cooperation."

Among foreign leaders, only Reagan got unreserved praise - for everything from showing her the TelePrompTer cuing system he used to backing down or apologizing in their two big quarrels.

These were over her refusal to negotiate with Argentina during the 1982 Falkland Islands war and the U.S. invasion of Grenada. - Associated Press

by CNB