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MDHIAN 0326
HOUSE MADE CLEAR THAT THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR HERE HAD BEEN SUMMONED ON 19 JUNE TO HEAR THE URGENT US APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY AND ADDED QUOTE THE UNITED STATES RAISED THIS SUBJECT IN THE SPIRIT OF A COUNTRY THAT HAS WORKED WITH CHINA OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES TO IMPROVE RELATIONS. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL AND OUR DUTY TO COMMENT ON THEM IS GREAT UNQUOTE. 5. IN A FIRST ADMINISTRATION COMMENT ON THE NEWS THAT THE EXECUTIONS HAD NEVERTHELESS TAKEN PLACE, BAKER SAID IN THE COURSE OF A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE HERE WITH GENSCHER ON 21 JUNE THAT THE US DEEPLY REGRETTED THE FACT OF THE EXECUTIONS, NOTWITHSTANDING APPEALS FOR CLEMENCY FROM THE US, FRG AND OTHER COUNTRIES. HE ADDED QUOTE THE US ARE NOT CONTEMPLATING ANY ADDITIONAL ACTION AT THIS TIME .... THERE IS AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP HERE, WHICH ONE SHOULD SEEK TO PRESERVE IF WE POSSIBLY CAN UNQUOTE.
COMMENT
6. CONTACTS IN THE CHINA TASK FORCE IN STATE DID NOT KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT BAKER WOULD REVEAL ON THE HILL THAT HE HAD RECOMMENDED FURTHER MEASURES TO THE PRESIDENT. THEY BELIEVE THAT HE TOOK A VERY LATE DECISION TO DO SO IN AN EFFORT TO PREEMPT FURTHER CONGRESSIONAL CRITICISM OF THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S INITIAL RESPONSE. IN FACT THE ADDITIONAL MEASURES ANNOUNCED ON 20 JUNE ARE ALSO MODEST: THE SUSPENSION OF HIGH LEVEL EXCHANGES DOES NO MORE THAN BRING THE US INTO LINE WITH OUR POSITION ANNOUNCED ON 6 JUNE, AND IN PRACTICE THE US HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR SOME TIME FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF WORLD BANK LOANS. THE EXECUTIONS IN SHANGHAI SEEM CERTAIN TO FUEL CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO GO FURTHER. CHINESE ELIGIBILITY FOR MEN STATUS IS LIKELY TO BE ONE TARGET.
ACLAND
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
183
.CHINA POLITICAL
LIMITED
FED
NEWS DEPT
INFO DEPT
DISTRIBUTION
194
RID
SPD
POD
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RMD
2
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