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
.