ACCESSION 
NUMBER:325424

FILE ID:EPF405

1ATE:02/03/94

TITLE:PERRY SAYS LIFT VIETNAM EMBARGO IF IT HELPS POW-MIA SEARCH (02/03/94)

TEXT:*94020305.EPF

*EPF405  02/03/94 *



PERRY SAYS LIFT VIETNAM EMBARGO IF IT HELPS POW-MIA SEARCH

(Excerpts: SecDef-designate confirmation hearing 02/02/94) (480)

Washington -- William Perry told the Senate Armed Services Committee

February 2 during his confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Defense, "My

views on that (Vietnam trade) embargo are that if we can improve our

prospects of advancing a determination of the fate of the POW-MIAs which we

still have from the Vietnam War, if we can improve our prospects by lifting

the embargo, we should do it."



Following is an unofficial transcript of an excerpt concerning Vietnam

missing from yesterday's Legi-Slate database:



(begin excerpts of unofficial transcript from Legi-Slate)

HEARING OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION HEARING OF WILLIAM PERRY TO BE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

CHAIRED BY:  SENATOR SAM NUNN (D-GA)

ROOM 216, SENATE HART OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, DC

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

SEN. ROBERT C. SMITH (R-NH):  Do you share the view of many in the current

administration and in the Congress that the Vietnamese embargo should be

lifted?



PERRY:  My views on that embargo are that if we can improve our prospects of

advancing a determination of the fate of the POW-MIAs which we still have

from that Vietnam War, if we can improve our prospects by lifting the

embargo, we should do it.



And if we would not improve those prospects, we should not.  I have talked

to the commanders in the field who are overseeing that operation, have

gotten their judgment that we are having -- we've had substantial

improvements in the last year in this area and further -- the judgment that

we could have further improvement by continuing working cooperatively with

the Vietnamese government on this.  That's a very difficult call, and I

know that's an area, Senator Smith, where you have worked very closely.  So

that would be my basis for a decision there, Senator Smith.



SEN. SMITH:  Well, this was played out pretty well on the Senate floor and I

don't wish to debate it again.  But I know -- I do appreciate the

opportunities that I've had to talk with many in your administration on

this issue.  I feel that I -- even though I may lose, I've had adequate

input -- maybe not adequate enough, but I've had input.



I just would -- just a final point on that.  I would just caution you that

there have been two sides to this; one saying all information has been

provided, therefore, lift the embargo.  The other side says the information

has not been fully provided, but if we lift the embargo we'll get it.  I'll

tell you that all information has not been provided and I think your

intelligence community knows that.  So it's a risk --



PERRY:  I agree with that, Senator.

SEN. SMITH:  It's lift and hope --

(end excerpts of unofficial transcript from Legi-Slate)

NNNN



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