DATE=3/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246721
TITLE=CONGRESS / NUCLEAR LABS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOME MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS ARE CALLING FOR A BAN ON
ALL CONTACTS BETWEEN AMERICAN AND FOREIGN NUCLEAR WEAPONS
SCIENTISTS. THEY SAY THE EXCHANGES POSE A GRAVE SECURITY RISK.
BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
IS DEFENDING THE GOVERNMENT'S EXCHANGE PROGRAM, TELLING LAWMAKERS
IT MUST GO ON.
TEXT: THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY MADE A PERSONAL APPEAL TO MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE:
/// FIRST RICHARDSON ACT ///
LET US CONTINUE RUNNING THE SCIENTISTS PROGRAM, THE
FOREIGN VISITORS PROGRAM.
/// END ACT ///
BILL RICHARDSON TRIED TO EASE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL
PROGRAM, WHICH ENABLES FOREIGN SCIENTISTS TO VISIT AMERICAN
NUCLEAR-WEAPONS LABORATORIES. HE SAID PARTICIPANTS HAVE NO
ACCESS TO AREAS WHERE SECRET RESEARCH IS UNDERWAY. AND HE WARNED
LAWMAKERS THAT BRINGING THESE SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGES TO A HALT
WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
/// SECOND RICHARDSON ACT ///
WE WANT OTHER NATIONS TO KNOW ABOUT OUR
NON-PROLIFERATION GOALS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SECURITY
INITIATIVES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM
WORKS WELL.
/// END ACT ///
BUT SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE DOUBTS. ALLEGATIONS THAT CHINA
MAY HAVE STOLEN SECRETS FROM A WEAPONS LAB IN LOS ALAMOS, NEW
MEXICO, ARE PROMPTING SOME LAWMAKERS TO CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON
EXCHANGES. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN DUNCAN HUNTER IS ONE OF THEM.
/// FIRST HUNTER ACT ///
THAT MAY BE A PLACE WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST FOR
THE TIME BEING A TOTAL BAN, UNLESS THERE IS A COMPELLING
REASON ARTICULATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARTICULAR
LABORATORY FOR THE VISIT.
/// END ACT ///
// OPT // AND MR. HUNTER WONDERS IF SCIENTISTS FROM CHINA SHOULD
EVER BE PERMITTED TO GET NEAR AN AMERICAN NUCLEAR-WEAPONS
FACILITY AGAIN.
/// SECOND HUNTER ACT ///
[IN THE] FIRST PLACE, IN TERMS OF SCIENTISTS COMING FROM
CHINA, EVEN WHEN WE GET BACKGROUND CHECKS, IT IS GOING
TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS.
SECONDLY, EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T ACCESS SENSITIVE
INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM THE LABORATORIES DURING THE
VISITS, THEY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY CAN TRY TO
EXPLOIT LATER.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER SAYS BETWEEN 1994 AND 1996, 746 CHINESE
VISITED THE LOS ALAMOS LABORATORY. IT WAS DURING THIS PERIOD
THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS FIRST BECAME AWARE THAT CHINA MAY HAVE
STOLEN SECRETS FROM THE LAB.
/// REST OPT ///
THE THEFTS ALLEGEDLY OCCURED IN THE 1980'S. A LOS ALAMOS
SCIENTIST, WEN HO LEE, IS THE MAIN SUSPECT. HE LOST HIS JOB AT
THE LABORATORY, BUT HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED IN THE CASE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WTW
16-Mar-99 4:23 PM EST (2123 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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