DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246652
TITLE=U-S / CHINA / NUKE (S/L) (RPT)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SENIOR U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE CONDUCTING A DAMAGE 
ASSESSMENT FOLLOWING THE LEAK OF TOP SECRET NUCLEAR-RELATED 
MATERIAL TO CHINA.  AT THE SAME TIME, AS CORRESPONDENT NICK 
SIMEONE AT THE WHITE HOUSE REPORTS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS
FACING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT ACTED SOON ENOUGH TO 
FERRET OUT A SUSPECTED SPY WHO MAY HAVE PASSED WEAPONS-RELATED 
MATERIAL TO BEIJING.                   

TEXT:  U-S OFFICIALS BEGAN TO SUSPECT CHINA HAD OBTAINED TOP 
SECRET NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FROM NEW MEXICO'S LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL 
LABORATORY BACK IN THE MID 1980'S. 

// OPT FOR LONG  // YET IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NEW YORK TIMES MADE 
PUBLIC THEIR INVESTIGATION OF THE MATTER LAST WEEK THAT WEN HO 
LEE, A CHINESE-AMERICAN NUCLEAR SCIENTIST AT THE LAB WAS FIRED --
SUSPECTED OF HELPING BEIJING OBTAIN SECRETS ABOUT THE MOST 
SOPHISTICATED NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE U-S ARSENAL.  // END OPT // 

THE WHITE HOUSE SAID IT TOOK DECISIVE ACTION ONCE IT BECAME 
APPARENT THAT BEIJING HAD A SPY AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE ATOMIC 
BOMB. BUT CHIEF SUSPECT WEN HO LEE WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE 
WORKING AT LOS ALAMOS FOR YEARS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS 
HE WASN'T MOVED OUT OF HIS JOB SO THAT HE WOULD NOT  BECOME AWARE
HE WAS THE FOCUS OF AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOW ADMITTING LAPSES IN SAFEGUARDING 
NUCLEAR SECRETS HAVE EXISTED FOR YEARS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ENERGY, WHICH RUNS THE LOS ALAMOS LAB.  SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART.

                         // LOCKHART ACT //

         NUCLEAR-RELATED INFORMATION WAS TRANSFERRED.  THERE IS A
         DAMAGE ASSESSMENT GOING ON NOW.  AGAIN, THIS HAPPENED IN
         THE MID 1980'S, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT DID HAPPEN.

                               // END ACT //

CHINA DENIES STEALING SECRET MATERIAL FROM THE UNITED STATES. AND
THE SUSPECTED LOS ALAMOS SPY -- WHO HAS MADE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO 
CHINA OVER THE YEARS -- STILL HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY 
CRIME.  /// REST OPT /// WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN LOCKHART SAYS HE 
DOESN'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING PREVENTING THE 20 YEAR 
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EMPLOYEE FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY WHILE THE 
F-B-I WEIGHS EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM. (SIGNED) 

NEB/NJS/JO

15-Mar-99 6:29 PM EST (2329 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.