From the day he took office, Ronald Reagan refused to acknowledge that man- made pollutants cause acid rain. In 1980, he went so far as to say that acid rain was caused by trees. In a St. Patrick's Day meeting a year ago in Quebec City with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, the President rejected requests from his fellow Irishman for U.S. action. But last week in Washington, during his second "shamrock summit" with Mulroney, Reagan changed his tune. Acid rain, said he, "is a serious concern affecting both our countries."
This belated recognition came as the President endorsed a January...