RESTRICTED
HKB 091/1
106,
105341
MDHIAN 2186
RECEIVED IN
HSTAY
27 MAY
CSK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Teton
MIN
RESTRICTED
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1176
OF 260015Z MAY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG, ACTOR
MY TELNO 1146: MFN FOR CHINA
SUMMARY
1.
ADMINISTRATION BRIEF THE HOUSE ON MFN. CONFIRM THEY WANT TO PROCEED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, WITH CONDITIONS LIMITED TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD. BUT NOT ABLE YET TO SAY PRECISELY WHAT THOSE CONDITIONS SHOULD BE. SOME IRRITATION ON THE HILL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE STILL NOT PRODUCED A COMPLETE PACKAGE.
DETAIL
2. LORD (STATE) AND WIEDEMANN (NSC) HELD INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS TODAY WITH THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. WE HAVE OBTAINED A READ-OUT FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL CONTACTS WHO ATTENDED THE HEARINGS.
3.
THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO PROCEED VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER. THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO RENEW FOR A FURTHER YEAR ON 3 JUNE, AND WAS DETERMINED ON CONDITIONS FOR FURTHER RENEWAL IN 1994. BUT HE FELT THAT, WHILE THE U.S.'S PROBLEMS WITH CHINA OVER TRADE AND PROLIFERATION SHOULD BE EMPHASISED IN THE EXECTIVE ORDER, THESE SHOULD NOT BE MADE INTO CONDITIONS FOR RENEWAL IN 1994. THE
PRESIDENT BELIEVED THAT EXISTING STATUTORY AUTHORITY GAVE THE ADMINISTRATION SUFFICIENT MEANS TO PURSUE THESE ISSUES WITH CHINA IF THE LATTER'S PROGRESS CONTINUED TO BE INADEQUATE. THEY SHOULD THEREFORE BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM MFN.
4. THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM TOLD THE HOUSE COMMITTEES THAT MFN
RENEWAL IN 1994 SHOULD BE MADE CONDITIONAL ONLY ON CHINA'S PERFORMANCE IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM WERE NOT IN A POSITION TODAY TO TELL CONGRESS PRECISELY WHAT THE PRESIDENT THOUGHT THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS SHOULD BE, OR WHAT THE CRITERIA FOR JUDGING CHINA'S PERFORMANCE IN 1994 SHOULD BE. MERELY SPOKE IN GENERAL TERMS ABOUT THE NEED FOR SOME 6-8 CONDITIONS, SOME OF WHICH WOULD BE ABSOLUTE. HE WAS PRESSED
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RESTRICTED
LORD
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