U.S. seeks new ties all round

Press, 13 June 1977, Page 9

U.S. seeks new ties all round

NZPA-Reuter Washington The United States wants to establish normal diplomatic relations with China, Cuba, and Vietnam, but special problems must be resolved first, the Deputy Secretary of State (Mr Warren Christopher) said yesterday. “The policy of the Carter Administration is to conduct our business with other members of the world community, through normal and

official diplomatic relations,” j he said in a speech to be < delivered at Occidental Col- i lege, Los Angeles. ( * Mr Christopher said that ' [the United States Secretary [of State (Mr yrus Vance) ! hoped to discuss ways to im-H prove relations with China;; ’when he visited Peking later*’ this year, possibly in August. *■ “The main obstacle to full! 1 | normalisation is the question; 1 [of Taiwan, an issue of gen-; ’nine concern to the Ameri-L 'can people. It is a question; iwe believe should be settled*' [peacefully — and by the;! [Chinese themselves.” Mr' ’Christopher said. On Vietnam, he said there; j was opposition in the United; * States to normal relations* •until Hanoi gave a full [account of the fate of : United States servicemen 1 i missing in action in the ’Vietnam War. : Memories of the war,’ 'along with a veto by Con-; ;gress on Vietnam’s request; [for economic aid, also made relations difficult, he said. Mr Christopher said that' the recent decision to exchange diplomats with' Cuba was a step towards; normal relations, but Cuba’s* involvement in Africa, com-; pensation for nationalised' [United States property, and [the United States trade em-.: [bargo against Cuba were crucial issues that had to be ’ iresolved. i He also said that the’i I United States wanted to norI malise relations with Iraq and Mongolia. ;