His Policy Ideas

Secretary of Defense Caspar ("Cap") Weinberger last week summarized his foreign policy views in an interview with TIME Correspondent Gregory H. Wierzynski. Excerpts:

On economic moves against the U.S.S.R.: "I haven't called for a trade embargo, but I have called for a very substantial tightening of technology, which I think we have fed to them by legal means and had it pilfered from us by illegal means. We have to recognize that trade with the Soviet Union is not like trade with Britain or France or Japan. The profits that arise from trade in the Soviet Union go directly, for the most part, to the military. In the case of a power that uses everything it can to enhance its military, you have to apply different standards and different protection rules."

On Poland's debt to the West: "Default is an option that ought to be considered each time the loans come up. The people of Poland obviously have to be considered, and if [default is] going to force the Soviets to use more of their resources for nonmilitary means, then that ought to be considered."

On U.S. forces in El Salvador: "I am with the President. He was asked about combat troops and said we have no plans that way."

On missile sales to Jordan: "The question isn't whether they will get them or not. The question is what influences will accompany them or who will supply them. We discussed with Jordan the lack of desirability of their getting them from the Soviets ... But there was never any offer made, and they didn't make any order. We discussed the procedures ... and ultimately told them that they would have to decide for themselves."

On his relations with Haig: "There has been a lot of garbage written about [us], but the basis for it is just about nonexistent. I have enormous respect for Al Haig. I meet with him regularly once a week at breakfast. We are on the phone three or four times a week. It is a source of continual amusement and amazement, though it is sometimes too serious for that, how this persistent mythology is fanned and kept alive. I guess it makes good reading."

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