h
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO TELELETTER FCO
TELELETTER NFR
OF 12234OZ MARCH 93
HKB
091/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 MAR 1993
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
FROM: S D PATTISON, WASHINGTON
TO:
J MORRIS ESQ., HKD, FCO
38
057266
MDTTAN 8409
SCAMS ir
16/Star Hearn
Sir J Coles
Mr Pellew, NAD
Mr Ricketts
16/3
Mrs Barnes Janes Mrching2013.
•pa.
J16/3
U.S./CHINA
1.
ON 12 MARCH I SPOKE TO KENT WIEDEMANN (NSC) ABOUT CURRENT U.S. THINKING ON MFN. IN STRICT CONFIDENCE WIEDEMANN SAID THE AMERICANS WERE PROPOSING TO MAKE A DEMARCHE TO THE CHINESE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO TO IMPRESS UPON THEM THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT CHINESE BEHAVIOUR IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS YEAR'S MFN DEBATE. THE LIST OF U.S. CONCERNS WAS FAIRLY GENERAL, AND REFLECTED WELL KNOWN PROBLEMS OVER HUMAN RIGHTS, TRADE, ARMS PROLIFERATION. THE AMERICAN CALCULATION WAS THAT THE CHINESE COULD NOT KNOW FOR SURE HOW THE MFN DEBATE WOULD TURN OUT, AND MIGHT OFFER SOME CONCESSIONS.
2.
WIEDEMANN SAID THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT DID NOT WANT TO ISOLATE CHINA, AND WAS SENSITIVE TO THE NEED TO USE THE MFN WEAPON SPARINGLY.
COMMENT
3.
IF THE ADMINISTRATION ARE TO SUCCEED IN GETTING AHEAD OF CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO TRY TO SQUEEZE WHAT THEY CAN OUT OF THE CHINESE BEFORE THE MFN DEBATE (MAY/JUNE). THIS WOULD EXPLAIN LAKE'S CONCERN TO DISCOUNT PRESS
REPORTS SUGGESTING MFN IS SECURE FOR THIS YEAR COUR TELNO 551).
4.
WE ARE SEEING WIEDEMANN AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND WILL REPORT MORE FULLY. MEANWHILE I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HIS CONFIDENCE COULD BE CAREFULLY RESPECTED (I HAVE DELIBERATELY NOT COPIED THIS TELELETTER MORE WIDELY).
SIGNED S D PATTISON
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL