April 10, 1985

A Federal appeals court panel today reinstated a jury's verdict that The Washington Post libeled William P. Tavoulareas, president of the Mobil Oil Corporation, in a 1979 article. The 2-to-1 decision, written by Judge George E. MacKinnon of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, ruled that the article contained false statements and that ''the evidence was sufficient to demonstrate that the article was published in reckless disregard of its falsity.'' The 88-page opinion cited a host of details about the article in support of its conclusion that it was published with such reckless disregard - in legal jargon, with ''actual malice.'' In a finding that could give new impetus to libel suits against aggressive journalistic organizations, it also stressed that ''The Post is a newspaper which seeks, among other things, hard-hitting investigative stories,'' and said such a policy of ''sophisticated muckraking'' could provide ''a motive for knowing or reckless falsehood.''

WHAT do I cook for myself when I dine at home alone? It is a natural question, and as a person who is single and makes his livelihood from food, I probably hear it more often than most people do. In these hectic times, it may come as a surprise to much of this country's population that anyone would bother to cook a meal for just himself or herself. Unfortunately, in the kitchens of many of today's single people, the only appliance that gets regular use is the refrigerator. Preparing a meal as often as not means spreading cheese on crackers or pulling the seal off a frozen dinner and popping it into the oven. That is a depressing comedown for what should be one of life's more enjoyable and festive rituals. Personally, I love dining, even when I am alone, and I derive enormous pleasure from cooking, whether for a group of people or for myself. So when I am by myself I often go about it as seriously as if I had guests. I set the table carefully, sometimes going so far as to bring out the good linen tablecloth, crystal and silver. Sometimes I will read or listen to music while eating, but I draw the line at watching television.

Sam M. Walton, the down- home Arkansas retail executive, is upset about the flood of imports, and he is aiming to do something about it. As the chairman of Wal- Mart Stores, a 753-unit discount chain that operates largely in rural communities, Mr. Walton, who Forbes has estimated to be worth more than $2 billion, sees his small- town customers losing their jobs as factories close because of imports. In February, he wrote to 3,000 American manufacturers and wholesalers telling them that the chain wanted to buy more American goods. ''Our continued success depends on our mutual reaction to a very serious problem with regard to our balance of trade deficit,'' he said in the letter. Wal- Mart reports that so far it has written new orders with four suppliers as a result of the 66-year-old Mr. Walton's appeal.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985 International Prime Minister Nakasone urged the Japanese to buy more foreign goods to help ease the trade crisis with the U.S. In a rare televised address, as the Government announced a series of measures to open Japanese markets, he warned that the program could cause some industries to ''suffer pain.'' (Page A1.) The package contains some immediate measures to open Japanese markets, but the emphasis is on steps to be carried out over three years. (D10.) The White House praised Mr. Nakasone's ''courageous moves.'' But Donald T. Regan, the chief of staff, said the package ''contains few new or immediate'' measures. (D10.) Some key Congressmen said the actions may not be enough to prevent retaliatory legislation. (D10.)

The White House chief of staff, Donald T. Regan, said today that the groundwork and an agenda would have to be complete before President Reagan would meet with Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the new Soviet leader. In laying out what amounted to the conditions that the Russians would have to meet before talks could be held, the White House appeared today to be moving away from its recent suggestions that a meeting should take place as quickly as possible, even with no prearranged agenda. Mr. Regan, echoing comments made Monday by State Department officials, told reporters that President Reagan was against ''just having meetings for meetings' sake.'' ''We think that it would be a big letdown,'' Mr. Regan said, ''not only for Americans, but for the rest of the world, if the two leaders were to meet and accomplish nothing.'' The President appeared last month to have been moving away from his long-held insistence on firm ground rules for a summit meeting when he sent Mr. Gorbachev a letter proposing a meeting.