CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL
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TO DESKBY 031700Z FCO
TELNO 489
OF 03160OZ MARCH 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, AMMAN, MODUK, ACTOR
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134237
MDHIAN 5312
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24/3
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, CAIRO, RIYADH, KUWAIT, BAHRAIN
SIC
SIR PERCY CRADOCK'S VISIT: MEETING WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT
1.
SIR PERCY CRADOCK CALLED ON THE VICE PRESIDENT THIS MORNING.
CHINA
2.
WE ASKED QUAYLE TO EXPRESS TO THE PRESIDENT OUR APPRECIATION FOR HIS DECISION TO VETO THE SENATE BILL IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON THE RENEWAL OF MFN STATUS FOR CHINA. SIR PERCY CRADOCK EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS VITAL FOR HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY MFN TREATMENT.
THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID THAT WHILE HUMAN RIGHTS REMAINED A MAJOR ISSUE, THE KEY U.S. CONCERN WAS WITH CHINESE CONDUCT OVER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
IRAQ
3.
SIR PERCY CRADOCK SAID THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS NOW OPENLY FRUSTRATING THE UN INSPECTION PROCESS AND PREVENTING THE DESTRUCTION OF BALLISTIC MISSILE MATERIAL. WE HAD TO OVERCOME THIS. THE VICE PRESIDENT AGREED THAT, IF FACED WITH A CLEAR THREAT, SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD PROBABLY GIVE WAY. QUAYLE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD MISCALCULATED BEFORE AND ONE DAY MIGHT WAKE UP TO FIND THAT HE HAD MISCALCULATED AGAIN.
LIBYA
4. QUAYLE ASKED IF WE THOUGHT THAT BOUTROS GHALI WAS PLAYING THIS STRAIGHT. SIR PERCY CRADOCK SAID THAT WE DID. QUAYLE EXPRESSED
CONCERN ABOUT LIBYAN OFFERS TO HAND THE TWO LIBYAN AGENTS OVER TO SOME UNSPECIFIED THIRD COUNTRY. THIS WOULD NOT BE A SOLUTION
UNLESS THEY WERE HANDED ON TO US OR THE AMERICANS.
5. WE ARE REPORTING SEPARATELY THE EXCHANGE ON ASSISTANCE FOR
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