The World : Britain’s ‘Star Wars’ Stake

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is seeking a $1.5 billion stake in President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative as Britain’s price for taking part in the program, government sources said in London. They said that Defense Secretary Michael Heseltine will formally ask his U.S. counterpart, Caspar W. Weinberger, for a guaranteed British share in the program, also known as “Star Wars.” They are to meet in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday. Washington, fearing protectionist complaints, has been reluctant to grant any foreign country a guaranteed slice of “Star Wars” contracts.