CONFIDENTIAL
MAB
Au Stom 138
136112
MDHIAN 0515
TOP COPY Q DIST?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1581
OF 102335Z JUNE 91
(CORRECTED VERSION)
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, ACTOR
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YOUR TELNOS 1037/8: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA
NT
1. WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE DRAFT IN SECOND TUR, SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED IN HONG KONG TELNO 1863. WE WOULD PROPOSE TO TELL STATE DEPARTMENT, WHEN HANDING OVER THE MESSAGE, THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THEIR DRAWING ON IT ORALLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CONGRESSMEN. BECAUSE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL TIMETABLE OUTLINED BELOW, WE THINK THAT THE MESSAGE SHOULD ISSUE WITHOUT FURTHER ADO. GRATEFUL FOR EARLY INSTRUCTIONS.
2.
THE LATEST INDICATIONS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL TIMETABLE ARE AS FOLLOWS. THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A HEARING ON 12 JUNE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY A MARK-UP OF LEGISLATION IN LATE JUNE. THIS IS LIKELY TO BE FOLLOWED BY A VOTE IN THE HOUSE IN THE FIRST HALF OF JULY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE VOTE COULD BE CALLED BEFORE THE 4 JULY RECESS, BUT IT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE AFTER CONGRESS RETURNS ON 8 JULY.
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AS TO THE SENATE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL BE LOBBYING REPUBLICAN SENATORS OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IN AN EFFORT TO PERSUADE THEM TO SUPPORT HIS POLICY. A SENATE VOTE IS EXPECTED SOME TIME BETWEEN THE 4 JULY HOLIDAY AND THE START OF THE SUMMER RECESS ON 5 AUGUST.
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IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, I WOULD PROPOSE TO WRITE THIS WEEK TO A CROSS-SECTION OF CONGRESSMEN (COPY OF MY PROPOSED LETTER BY FAX TO STONE, HKD).
5. IN ADDITION, I AGREE THAT A STATEMENT FROM THE PRIME, MINISTER, PERHAPS IN THE FORM OF A RESPONSE TO AN INSPIRED PQ, MIGHT BE USEFUL. THE MAIN TARGET WOULD BE KEY SENATORS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE MESSAGE WILL MAKE MOST IMPACT. I WILL SPEAK TO SUNUNU ABOUT THIS DURING THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK. SUBJECT TO THAT CONVERSATION, THE BEST TIME FOR ME TO FORWARD SUCH A MESSAGE WOULD BE SHORTLY BEFORE THE VOTE IN THE SENATE. WE SHALL SEND YOU THE DRAFT OF A POSSIBLE STATEMENT SHORTLY.
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