DATE=3/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246917
TITLE=CLINTON NEWS CONFERENCE/CHINA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DEFENDED HIS ADMINSTRATION'S
RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF CHINESE SPYING ON AMERICAN NUCLEAR
LABORATORIES. THERE HAS BEEN REPUBLICAN CRITICISM THAT THE
ADMINSTRATION WAS LAX IN TIGHTENING SECURITY AT THE LABORATORIES.
V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS.
TEXT: AT HIS MOST WIDE-RANGING NEWS CONFERENCE IN ALMOST A YEAR,
MR. CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS (FRIDAY) THE WHITE HOUSE WAS
AGGRESSIVE IN TIGHTENING SECURITY PROCEDURES AT THE SENSITIVE
RESEARCH LABORAORIES.
MR. CLINTON SAID THE INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT NUCLEAR
SECRETS WERE PASSED TO CHINA BY A LABORATORY EMPLOYEE HAS -- SO
FAR -- NOT DETERMINED FOR CERTAIN THAT ESPIONAGE WAS INVOLVED.
/// CLINTON ACT ///
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAS NOT
YET DETERMINED FOR SURE THAT ESPIONAGE OCCURED. THAT
DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE WAS NOT A FAULTY SECURITY
SITUATION AT THE LAB. THE SECURITY PROCEDURES WERE TOO
WEAK FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS -- FOR A VERY LONG
TIME. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY MOVING TO
CORRECT THAT, AND A LOT OF CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.
/// END ACT ///
THE CONTROVERSY WAS SET OFF BY ALLEGATIONS THAT AN EMPLOYEE AT
THE LOS ALAMOS LABORATORY, SINCE REMOVED FROM HIS JOB, PASSED
SECRETS TO CHINA THAT HELPED THE CHINESE MAKE SMALLER NUCLEAR
WARHEADS FOR INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILES.
CHINA HAS CATEGORICALLY DENIED THE CHARGE, SAYING ALL ITS WEAPONS
WERE DEVELOPED WITH CHINESE TECHNOLOGY. BUT ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CHINA BENEFITED FROM U-S
WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WTW
19-Mar-99 7:16 PM EST (0016 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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