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importance to us because it is the Committee that deals with the State Department budget. Mr. Armstrong and I and Mr. Holdridge do not want our pay reduced, so we have a great deal of interest in that Committee. The Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives has also indicated an interest on the part of his Sub-Committee, for its members to visit the People's Republic of China. This Sub-Committee is part of the overall Committee which deals with foreign affairs legislation and is the particular Committee that deals with Asia. It is naturally most interested in visiting the People's Republic of China. Additionally the women members of the House of Representatives have indicated an interest in a delegation of women members of Congress from the House of Representatives to visit China. Some members have discussed this interest with the wife of the Chief of your Liaison Office. In making their interest known to you, we would hope you would consider them and indicate your general attitude toward receiving such groups. We could then, at a later stage and an appropriate time, get into the details of the proposed numbers, times and programs that might be most suitable for such a group. And, as is usual, if there are any groups of similar nature that you should wish to send to the United States on a reciprocal basis, we are open to any ideas that you may have. To follow Mr. Lin's proposal that I proceed with any ideas I may have, there are one or two things that I would like to present for your consideration. You will recall in 1973 a group of White House fellows visited China. This is a very distinguished group of young Americans that are specially chosen for a year's work in the environment of the White House and I am sure you will recall the caliber and characteristics of these people from their 1973 visit. The present White House fellows have suggested a visit to the People's Republic of China and a return visit by young Chinese leaders. If that proposal is of interest to you, we would be prepared to pursue it. |
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