June 2, 1984

The Dutch Cabinet voted today to delay a decision on deploying cruise missiles in the Netherlands and to link any deployment to progress in the stalled Soviet-American arms talks. The decision came as President Reagan left on a trip to several European countries during which he is expected to appeal to Moscow for a thaw in the relations. Foreign ministers of the 16 North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, meeting in Washington earlier this week, restated the alliance's policy of maintaining a strong defense, while staying open to negotiations with the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. Avoid Cabinet Crisis At a news conference after a one- hour Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers said the Government, evidently to avoid a serious Cabinet crisis, would send a note to Parliament calling for a decision on the stationing of cruise missiles in the Netherlands to be delayed until Nov. 1, 1985.

President Reagan, arriving in the country of his ancestors for the start of his European trip, appealed today for universal recognition of ''the rights of individual liberty'' and for ''tolerance and reconciliation'' among Roman Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. In brief remarks at a wind-blown arrival ceremony at Shannon Airport, Mr. Reagan spoke in general, even sentimental, terms about Ireland and Irish contributions to American and world civilization. But he also warned against ''governments that oppress their citizens, renounce God and prey on their neighbors.''

Eden Pastora Gomez, the Nicaraguan rebel wounded by a bomb, was flown to Venezuela after Costa Rica asked him to leave. Page 3. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, June 1 - Secretary of State George P. Shultz made an unexpected visit to leaders of the Sandinista Government tonight and later said ''constructive'' discussions had resulted in the decision to pursue additional talks. ''President Reagan sent me here to Central America on a mission of peace,'' Mr. Shultz said after emerging from a private meeting of more than two hours with Daniel Ortega Saavedra, coordinator of the Nicaraguan junta.

After months of negotiations, two feuding trade associations in the drug industry have endorsed compromise legislation that could double the number of cheaper generic drugs on the market over the next three to five years and cut the cost of many popular drugs in half or more. The legislation would provide for the speedier introduction of many lower- cost generic drugs in return for extending the term of the patents of many higher- priced brand-name drugs. Wider availability of low-cost generics could save consumers about $1 billion in drug costs over the next dozen years, according to estimates by the Food and Drug Administration. Hopes for Passage Rise The agreement is expected to heighten the chances for Congressional approval of a bill that has long been bottled up by bitter disputes between the large companies that manufacture brand-name drugs and the smaller companies that make generic copies of the brand-name products. But a powerful minority of the brand-name industry remains opposed to the compromise and still might work against it.

Three Transit Authority police officers were arrested yesterday on an indictment charging them with manslaughter in the death of a 25- year-old Brooklyn man who prosecutors said had died after a police beating. Other officers may have been involved in the death, although they were not indicted, according to District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau of Manhattan. Prominent blacks have charged that the death of the man, Michael Stewart, a black seized for scrawling graffiti in a subway station, was racially motivated. The officers who were indicted are white.