CONFIDENTIAL
AKB 040/4.
$19
071403
MDHOAN 4270
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELNO 954
OF 2817OOZ MAY 91
Ados
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
12
YOUR TELNO 1370: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA
AS YOU KNOW, IN THE COURSE OF A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER ON 23 MAY, THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE WOULD
1.
BE ASKING CONGRESS TO RENEW MFN STATUS FOR CHINA. HE ADDED THAT THIS WOULD PROVOKE THE HUMAN RIGHTS LOBBY, AND SAID THAT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE PRIME MINISTER COULD MAKE A STATEMENT OR TALK OR WRITE TO LEADING CONGRESSMEN.
2.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK OR WRITE TO CONGRESSMEN OR GIVE INTERVIEWS TO THE US MEDIA IF THIS WOULD HELP. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE ON HOW BEST TO USE THE PRIME MINISTER'S INFLUENCE WITH LEADING CONGRESSMEN. WE WOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE TIMING OF ANY SUCH APPROACHES.
3 =
THE PRIME MINISTER'S CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT HAS TO SOME EXTENT OVERTAKEN YOUR EARLIER ADVICE ABOUT A PRIME MINISTERIAL MESSAGE. BUT WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER YOU WOULD RECOMMEND THAT A MESSAGE STILL BE SENT, SUITABLY AMENDED.
4. NUMBER 10 HAVE ASKED FOR URGENT ADVICE ON THIS ISSUE AND WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL FOR AN EARLY REPLY.
HURD
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