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25 MAY 1993
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FM WASHINGTON
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
TO DESKBY 20080OZ FCOLN
TELNO 1146
OF 210012Z MAY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG, ACTOR
(97)
075025
MOHIAN 1719
Min file fi
MEN
MY TELNO 1127: MFN FOR CHINA
SUMMARY
1.
DEPUTIES TO SUBMIT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE TO RENEW MFN IN 1993, AND SET CONDITIONS FOR FURTHER RENEWAL IN 1994. THE DRAFT GIVES THE PRESIDENT MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN DEERMINING CHINA'S PERFORMANCE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
DETAIL
2. STATE TELL US THAT THE DEPUTIES MEETING ON 19 MAY AGREED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD RENEW MFN BY MEANS OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, NOT LEGISLATION. THE DEPUTIES THEN LOOKED IN DETAIL AT 3 DIFFERENT DRAFTS OF A POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
3.
AS A RESULT OF THAT MEETING AND FURTHER WORK TODAY, THE 3 DRAFTS HAVE BEEN BOILED DOWN INTO A SINGLE VERSION. THIS WOULD RENEW MFN FOR ONE MORE YEAR IN JUNE, AND SET CONDITIONS FOR FURTHER RENEWAL IN JUNE 1994. STATE CONFIRMED THAT THE CONDITIONS RELATED TO CHINA'S PERFORMANCE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS, PROLIFERATION AND TRADE. BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO BE DRAWN ON THE DETAILS OF THE CONDITIONS OR OF THE STANDARDS BY WHICH CHINA WOULD BE JUDGED IN 1994. THEY SAID THE WHITE HOUSE MIGHT YET ASK FOR FURTHER REVISIONS, AND STATE DID NOT WANT TO MISLEAD US BY GIVING US DETAILS OF A VERSION WHICH MIGHT NOT BE THE FINAL ONE.
4. STATE, HOWEVER, ASSURED US THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SET OUT THE CONDITIONS IN SUCH A WAY AS TO GIVE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY TO THE : PRESIDENT IN DETERMINING COME JUNE 1994 WHETHER THE CHINESE
PERFORMANCE WAS ADEQUATE.
5.
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STATE SAID THAT THE LATEST DRAFT WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT ON 21 MAY. IF HE WERE CONTENT, THE DRAFT WOULD THEN BE DISCUSSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE KEY CONGRESSIONAL PLAYERS. ASSUMING THE LATTER WERE CONTENT, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WOULD BE
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