CONFIDENTIAL
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MDLIAN 7055
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 393
OF 080006Z FEBRUARY 91
I think your dept is top copy
on thite Yels
ANJ
N
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
YOUR TELNO 192: CHINA/US RELATIONS: MFN STATUS
1. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE HKTO. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY CONGRESSMEN - PARTICULARLY SENATORS - WHO WOULD DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS FRIENDS OF CHINA. IN THE MFN DEBATE LAST YEAR THOSE HOUSE MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO CONTINUE MFN DID SO NOT OUT OF SYMPATHY FOR CHINA, BUT TO PROTECT US BUSINESS INTERESTS (PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG). THE SENATE DID NOT/NOT VOTE ON MFN AND IT IS THEREFORE IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHICH SENATORS WOULD HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN FAVOUR OF CONTINUATION.
2.
MOST CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS ON CHINA OVER THE PAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS HAVE BEEN NON-BINDING RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING CHINESE ACTIONS (IN TIBET, TIANANMEN SQUARE) AND THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. THESE HAVE INVARIABLY ATTRACTED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT INCLUDING FROM THE CONGRESSMEN LISTED BELOW.
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WITH THESE CAVEATS, IT MIGHT BE WORTH THE CHINESE CONSIDERING INVITATIONS TO THOSE LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 4 CAND 5) BELOW. THESE ARE SENATORS INFLUENTIAL IN THE PARTY LEADERSHIP OR KEY COMMITTEES DEALING WITH TRADE OR EAST ASIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS. WE HAVE DELIBERATELY EXCLUDED SOME WHO WOULD, IN OUR VIEW, BE MOST INCLINED TO USE THE VISIT TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS FOR THEMSELVES BY CRITICISING CHINA, BUT SOME OF THE MOST SENIOR FIGURES MIGHT BE RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 4. SUGGESTED SENATORS: DOLE (R-KANSAS MINORITY LEADER): SIMPSON (R-WYOMING - ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER): GRAMM (R-TEXAS CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE): DASCHLE (D-SOUTH DAKOTA - POLICY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRMAN): PELL (D-RHODE ISLAND - CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE), DODD (D-CONNECTICUT - MEMBER, SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE): LUGAR (R-INDIANA MEMBER, SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE): MURKOWSKI (R-ALASKA - RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE): BENTSEN (D-TEXAS
CHAIRMAN, SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE): PACKWOOD CR-OREGON RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE): BAUCUS (D-MONTANA - CHAIRMAN, INTERNATIONAL TRADE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCE): DANFORTH (R-MINNESOTA - RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, INTERNATIONAL TRADE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCE), CONRAD (D-NORTH DAKOTA), ROBB
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