1 August 1991
RESTRICTED
Miz 00/4
British Embassy Washington
3100 Massachusetts Ave N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-3600
Telephone: (202)
Telex: RCA 211427 or 216760-WUI 64224
Facsimile: (202) 898-4255
M Stone Esq Hong Kong Dept
FCO
New Righest
Pa
1918
195
US/CHINA: MFN
Three
1. Following the setback to Mitchell's bill in the Senate on 23 July, Democrats are in some disarray about how to proceed. options have been considered. The first - favoured by Congresswoman Pelosi - would be to remove from the legislation all amendments other than those that deal directly with human rights issues, in the hope that this would attract more support in a veto fight. At the same time, however, the Democrats concede that some Senators supported the bill because they agreed with certain amendments - such as those on non-proliferation - which were not related to human rights. It is uncertain therefore that even a bill which focused solely on human rights would be veto-proof.
2. Another option would be for the Democrats to attach even more amendments to the bill in the certain knowledge that it would be vetoed, but in the hope that they could make some political capital out of the fact that Bush had been prepared to veto otherwise sensible amendments simply to protect the Chinese.
3.
But the most likely option is that Mitchell will not send the bill to the White House this year, but keep it for the MFN debate next year. (Bills can be held for the lifetime of a Congressional session which lasts until the end of 1992). I gather that his staffers are particularly keen on this option since it would avoid the embarrassment of a Presidential veto - this year - but would also mean that they would not have to start from scratch in drafting a bill next year. In any event it is unlikely that Mitchell will do anything until after the summer recess.
RESTRICTED