World Leaders Say Goodby to ‘Dear Ron’

Foreign nations gave a warm farewell to Ronald Reagan and welcomed President Bush to office Friday.

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Reagan’s ideological and personal friend, sent a note that was addressed “Dear Ron” and called him “one of the greatest presidents.”

She sent Bush a congratulatory message, saying that the new President’s broad government experience “will be of immense value not only to the United States but to the whole free world as well.”

Irish Prime Minister Charles Haughey reminded Reagan of his 1984 visit to his ancestral village and promised: “You can always be sure of a warm welcome if you come on a return visit.”

President Francois Mitterrand of France wished Bush well and happiness to the American people.

“I want to assure you that France, your friend and ally always, will find itself, tomorrow like yesterday, at the side of the United States of America in the service of great causes,” he said in a letter.

In Moscow, the Soviets paid a respectful tribute to Reagan in a lengthy article entitled “Reagan’s Best Role” published in the Communist Party newspaper Pravda. Reagan was, “according to all external indications, leaving office as a completely successful political figure,” Pravda said.

Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev congratulated Bush on his inauguration and expressed hope that superpower relations would be stable during his term in office, the Tass news agency said.

“Further joint efforts by the Soviet Union and the United States will make it possible substantially to bring closer the solution of the most painful problems of the present time-above all, those connected with the need to eliminate the threat of war,” Gorbachev said.

At the Vatican, Pope John Paul II sent a message to Bush expressing the hope that his presidency will “contribute to the effort to build peace in the world on the solid foundation of justice and respect for all human beings.”