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
.