CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 508
OF 050212Z MARCH 92
CONFIDENTIAL
MW's ok la
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG, ACTOR
Q
MY TELNO 489: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA
M
जउ
10
141462
MDHIAN 5561
1. WHEN SIR PERCY CRADOCK AND I CALLED ON EAGLEBURGER, WE WELCOMED THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO VETO THE BILL IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON THE RENEWAL OF MFN STATUS FOR CHINA. EAGLEBURGER SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN THE RIGHT THING TO DO. BUT THE QUESTION WOULD COME UP AGAIN IN JUNE. A FURTHER VOTE WAS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN THEN. THE CHINESE REMAINED OBDURATE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS. THIS WAS CAUSING A LOSS OF SUPPORT EVEN AMONG REPUBLICAN SENATORS. THE OPPONENTS OF RENEWAL OF MFN STATUS DID NOT AT PRESENT HAVE THE TWO- THIRDS MAJORITY REQUIRED TO OVER-RIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL VETO, BUT THE OUTCOME IN JUNE WAS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.
RENWICK
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
89
ΜΑΙΝ
89
FED
EAPD/ODA
HKD
PS
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
ERD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
ESED
SIR J COLES
JOINT DIRECTORATE
MR CROWE
NAD
MR MILES
NEWS D
MR BURNS
RAD.
MR BEAMISH
PUSD
NNNN
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL