President Reagan congratulated Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for his "new position" of president and apparent consolidation of power, a White House spokesman said Wednesday. Reagan sent a message to Gorbachev late Tuesday, said White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater, "congratulating him on his new position." Though the spokesman declined to release the message, Fitzwater said it included the following words to Gorbachev from Reagan: "The people of the United States look forward to continuing the process of dialogue that you and I have established, which is aimed at steady progress toward a more stable, more peaceful and safer world. Please accept my hearty congratulations."
