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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JULY 31, 1981
PAGE 10
As soon as I read my eagerly-awaited copy of The PLAIN TRUTH, I count
the days to the next month's arrival.
C. S. (London, England}
Church
We have seen God's Church slide into near oblivion, then come roaring
back through the power of the Spirit of God working through His apos
tle.
C.M. (Kenosha, WI)
It is very thrilling to see the impact your effort is having around the
world. Also the way Christ is setting His Church higher and higher upon
a hill so that the true light may become more apparent and show the way
to all.
R.C. (St. Petersburg, FL)
ON THE WORLD SCENE
MR. REAGAN'S SUMMIT--OTTAWA: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Brit
ain succinctly summed up the seventh annual free world economic summit held
here in Canada's capital:
"I think Ronald Reagan had a very good summit
indeed."
At times, in fact, it seemed almost as if President Reagan were the host of
the three-day conference, rather than Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott
Trudeau. From the very moment he touched the tarmac at the airport on Sunday
afternoon, July 19, smiling and waving to the press as usual--in sharp con
trast to the other far more reserved heads-of-government--it was obvious
that Mr. Reagan was the dominant personality among the seven world leaders
who represent nations controlling about 80% of the free world's GNP.
(The
roster also included President Francois Mitterrand of France, Chancellor
Helmut Schmidt of West Germany, Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki of Japan and
Premier Giovanni Spadolini of Italy.
Gaston Thorn of Luxembourg attended
as an observer, being president of the European Common Market's council.)
From the very start, Mr. Reagan took the lead, but in his own inimitable
style--firm, but never overbearing, tempered with well-placed quips and
anecdotes. The president, while a "rookie" at summitry (along with Mitter
rand, Suzuki, and Spadolini), nevertheless showed he was up to the strenuous
tasks. He had prepared thoroughly for the summit, enduring hours of gruel
ing briefings by aides.
One unforgettable photograph taken at nearby Chateau Montebello, site of
most of the closed-door sessions, revealed who was unmistakably in charge of
the proceedings: It showed Mr. Reagan rather gleefully steering a golf cart
around the chateau grounds--with a glum, nonplussed Chancellor Schmidt sit
ting to his right.
The other six leaders found President Reagan to be no "figurehead" leader
but a man very much "up front." He did nearly all of the talking for the
U.S. delegation.
He revealed himself as being single-minded and firmly
rooted in his convictions. And adding to his infectious charm, which all
acknowledged, he can be very persuasive. The final communique largely re
flected his own views on economic matters. At the same time, Mr. Reagan