Notes
The unsurprising news that Mr Reagan . has been re-elected President of the United States is, on the whole, good news. It is not nowadays possible, if it ever was, for Britain to assume an identity of interest With America in the affairs of the workl. Our relative weakness means that we can n() longer expect to work so closely with What was once a scarcely .greater power, and • America's economic and cultural moves east mean that she is no longer so eager to act in Britain's interest. Mr Reagan's first Presidency has reflected these changes, and in some ways made life difficult for Britain. Problems of defence, free trade and interest rates have been raised. Whoever becomes American Presi- dent today cannot expect the enthusiasm and interest which attended men like Ken- nedy and Roosevelt. Mr Reagan is no exception, and it is hard to believe that he Will rank as one of the greatest statesmen in American history. But the attacks made On him are generally far more ridiculous than the things said in his.praise. There is no evidence that Mr Reagan is a warmon- ger: The idea that his opposition to 'liberal' soci a , sexual and religious opinions anlounts to an assault on freedom is absurd. He is not a racist, or a lunatic or senile. He is a very skilful politician in a Populist tradition which, because it is outside our own, is not for that reason Contemptible. He is a man with steady nerve, unrancorous, friendly. If it is true that he can make the American people feel good about themselves, that is to his credit,. fOr they have More cause for self- congratulation than almost any nation on earth. Mr Reagan's view of the world may not he Subtle, but it is decent and sensible.
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