203
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST?
104347 MDLIAN/ 8558
thi3 090/4
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2282
OF 110029Z SEPTEMBER 91
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, NAIROBI
NAIROBI (FOR SECRETARY OF STATES PARTY)
Za
YOUR TELNO 1470: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA
SUMMARY
1.
SCOWCROFT SAYS THAT CONGRESS WILL TRY TO WITHDRAW MFN STATUS FOR CHINA. THE PRESIDENT WILL VETO THE BILL. ITS PROPONENTS WILL THEN WAIT FOR THE CHINESE TO DO SOMETHING WHICH COULD HELP THEM GET THE VOTES TO OVERRIDE THE VETO. ADMINISTRATION GRATEFUL FOR OUR CONTINUED LOBBYING ON THIS ISSUE.
DETAIL
THE NEXT STEP IS FOR CONGRESS TO RECONCILE THE PELOSI AND MITCHELL BILLS. THE RESULTANT TEXT WILL GO FORWARD
2.
TO THE PRESIDENT WHO, SCOWCROFT CONFIRMED TO ME ON 10 SEPTEMBER, WILL VETO IT. THE WHITE HOUSE ASSESSMENT IS THAT THERE ARE
INSUFFICIENT VOTES IN THE SENATE TO SUSTAIN A VETO OVERRIDE. MFN SHOULD THEREFORE BE RENEWED UNCONDITIONALLY
FOR THIS YEAR.
3. SCOWCROFT SAID THAT MITCHELL DOES NOT PLAN TO SEEK AN IMMEDIATE VOTE IN THE SENATE TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL VETO. INSTEAD HE WILL WAIT TO SEE IF THE CHINESE DO SOMETHING
SUFFICIENTLY STUPID TO HELP HIM GET ADDITIONAL VOTES. SCOWCROFT IS NOT SANGUINE ABOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THE CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE AND, THEREFORE, REMAINS WORRIED ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE VETO.
4. I SAID THAT WE WOULD BE GO ON REMINDING SENATORS
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED MFN STATUS FOR HONG KONG. SCOWCROFT SAID THAT HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS ON THE SUBJECT.
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.