The Malta summit also discussed an important American proposal to host an international conference on global warming next year.

Using those realistic criteria, the result of the Malta summit becomes clear: Mr. Bush failed miserably and Mr. Gorbachev succeeded brilliantly.

The major purpose of the Malta summit was to send a signal, before what we expected would be rocky times, that we wanted to see Gorbachev succeed.

Personal Stake for Bush There was an intensely personal stake for Mr. Bush in the Malta summit.

In fact, Longfellow is having one of his biggest months in years in the run-up to the Malta summit.

When the President initiates an idea, he points out that it is his, as he did on the Malta summit.

A more far-reaching agreement on reductions in strategic nuclear arms, which at the time of the Malta summit had been thought imminent, was deferred for further discussion.

President Bush has already promised that no commitments will be made at the Malta summit, and last week agreed to fly on to Brussels immediately afterwards to brief Nato leaders.

Ostensibly, Admiral Scowcroft's mission was to brief China's leaders on the Malta summit.

And, for all the cordiality surrounding the Malta summit, the US is probably anxious to retain its satellite intelligence stations in China.