European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes wednesday december 20,1989 critics say Bush misled Public about China contacts Washington a president Bush defending his secrecy in dealing with China faces criticism he mis led the american people by sending High level emissaries to Beijing barely a month after the bloody crackdown on pro democracy demonstrators. Bush said any suggestion that his actions amounted to condoning the repression in China was not a Good rap and it s not  and for those who suggest it is Bush said monday they ought to just be a Little patient and wait and see How China responds to his overtures. As Bush was scoffing at his critics the White House acknowledged a previously secret trip to China by two High level presidential emissaries. Brent scowcroft the National Security adviser and Lawrence Eagle Burger the Deputy Secretary of state visited Beijing on Bush s orders in july As the United states was saying that High level . Contacts had been Cut in protest of the crushing of the pro democracy movement. It was scowcroft and Eagle Burger who also quietly trav eled to China this month expressing Hopes to bring new impetus and vigor in sino american relations. In Beijing tuesday China s foreign ministry issued a statement saying the government had received scowcroft last july at the United states request. Such High level contacts Between China and the United states arc useful and conducive to enhancing the Mutual understanding the statement from Beijing said. Senate majority Leader George Mitchell a Maine said he was astonished to icam of the july meeting saying the trips to Beijing make a mockery of our profession of concern for human rights and the stated ideals of our democratic system of  Mitchell called on the Bush administration to disclose All . Contacts with the chinese government. However White House press Secretary Marlin Fitzwa Ter said he could not Rule out the possibility that scow Croft and Eagleburger or other top officials had made other still secret trips to China. The dec. 8 visit was announced after the two officials arrived in Beijing. The july visit was acknowledged Only after it was reported by the Cable news network and the White House refused to provide any details even the Date of the trip. Rep. Sam Gejdenson d-conn., chairman of a House foreign affairs subcommittee on Trade said Bush mis led the american people and the  How docs the White House Square that earlier trip with their statements at the time that High level contacts with the chinese were Cut off Gejdenson said. The sad reality is that the president confuses his personal relation ship with the chinese leaders with what is Good National  Fitzwater said Bush believed it was essential to hold quiet diplomatic discussions with China outside the Public Glare regarding its crackdown. The president has had years of experience with China and he knows that Ace to face declarations Are important to them and Felt it was important that they knew privately and from someone on his immediate staff just How strongly the United states Felt about this Fitzwater said. A White House statement said the july Mission was undertaken to underscore . Shock and concern about the violence in Tiana men Square and to impress upon the chinese government the seriousness with which this incident was viewed in the United  problems delay shuttle launching Cape canaveral Fla. A the launching of he space shuttle Columbia on a satellite Rescue Mission was put off monday until Jan. 8 to allow More time to Correct launching pad problems and to let workers go Home for the holidays. Shuttle managers made the decision after assessing Progress on lagging work at renovated pad 39a, which has not been used for nearly four years. A series of pad problems earlier caused two previous Short postpone ments of the Mission which is to deploy one satellite and retrieve another that is falling to Earth. With the problems blocking any Chance of launching this week and with the holidays approaching the managers said they would stand Down until after the first of the year. The latest scheduled launching Date had been thursday. The team worked very hard to get Columbia off before Christmas but the added work of going off a refurbished pad and a new Mobile launching platform really slowed us Down said William 6. Lenoir Nasa s associate administrator for space flight. He said the delay should not affect the nine other shuttle launching planned in 1990. Nasa earlier had said there would be no launching attempt on dec. 24, 25 or 26 so that most of the Kennedy space Center s 16,000 workers could be freeform Christmas. Astronaut Dan Brandenstein who will command co Lumbia said he and his Crew were disappoint cd about the delay but we Are Happy to know we will be spending Christmas with our loved ones. Well get a Good running Start at launching after the holidays and we can t think of a better Way to Start a promising new  the Long delay also will enable the space Agency to essentially shut Down the Center As it usually docs the last week of each year to allow employees to Lake Long planned vacations and to permit a shutdown of electrical systems so aging computers and other systems can be overhauled. Stateside 4 fires destroy Yule mail officials blame arsonist Arlington Texas a More than 1,000 pieces of Christmas mail were destroyed in four Post office fires that officials said Mon Day were the work of arsonists. Flammable liquid was poured into mail slots and ignited sunday morning burning almost All the contents police and fire officials said. Sever Al grass fires also were set in this suburb betwee Dallas and fort Worth. They re All arson. We re dead sure of that. The same person or persons did All of these said Stephen Lea Deputy fire marshal. Postmaster Mike Larntz said 1,000 to 2,000 pieces of mail were destroyed. Anyone who dropped mail in those boxes after the last collection should consider that mail gone Larntz said. Any salvageable mail any thing we can identify we will make an attempt to Send anything Back to the sender or  no injuries were reported. Damage to each of the Post offices was estimated at $5,000, not counting the mail. Walls Glass and ceilings were burned at the four Post office buildings Larntz said. One was closed monday because of fire damage he said. Nippon steel becomes Inland s top shareholder Tokyo up Nippon steel corp. Has become the biggest shareholder of Inland steel industries inc., Parent company of America s fourth largest steel maker. Inland steel co., Pur chasing 13 percent of the company s Stock a official of Nippon steel said. Nippon steel one of world s largest steel Mak ers acquired 183,000 shares of preferred Stock of the Chicago based company with voting right for $ 185 million the company official said. The official said the Deal is in line with a recent consolidation of relations Between nip Pon steel and Inland. Nippon steel and Inland steel established two joint venture firms to manufacture and coat steel boards in 1990 in Indiana. Inland steel will buy Back 85.000 shares by dec. 18, 1996 and another 100,000 shares by dec. 17, 1999, the official said. Honda production starts at $380 million site in Ohio East Liberty Ohio a Honda of America on monday began mass production tits new Auto Assembly Plant rolling out a civic four door Sedan he company announced. The cars produced monday were the first made for Sale at the East Liberty Auto Plant near Honda s first Assembly Plant in Marysville. The company earlier this year made some cars atthe East Liberty Plant during reproduction. The company said it will make 65,000 cars at the new Plant next year. In 1991, the company expects the Plant to produce 150,000 cars bring ing Honda s total Auto production in Ohio to 510,00 accords and civics that year. The Marysville Plant also makes civic four door sedans As Well As Accord four door sedans and two door coupes. It produces 360,000 cars a year. Honda said the $380 million East Liberty Plant has 450 employees working one shift Dur ing the remaining five Days of production this year. At full production the Plant will have about 1,800 employees on two shifts. Engines for the cars produced at East Liberty Are made at the company s engine Plant in Anna Ohio. A fuel truck stops monday near the delayed shuttle. Fra approves marijuana use in aids treatment Washington up the . Government for the first time has approved the Legal use of marijuana for an acquired immune deficiency syndrome patient to test reduction of nausea vomiting and pain caused by the disease and its powerful therapies officials said monday. Under the License approved last wednesday by the food and drug administration a 33-year-old texan identified Only As Steve because of patient confidentiality rules will receive prescription marijuana from the govern ment s Stock controlled by the National Institute on drug abuse. He joins a handful of other patients with cancer glaucoma and multiple Scle Rosis who have secured medical Access to the tightly controlled drug in order to treat elements of their diseases or thera pies. This is a significant breakthrough for persons afflicted with aids and for All those seeking Legal medically supervise Access to prescription  said Robert Randall president of the Alliance for cannabis therapeutics the washing ton based group that disclosed the approval. Fra spokesmen said they did not know of the approval but officials at the National Institute of drug abuse which must ship the marijuana to the patient s doctor confirmed that the Agency had approved inc License. Over the past decade some studies have shown marijuana can reduce the often debilitating nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy and ease the crippling spasms and pain caused by other neurologic disorders. No one is suggesting marijuana ii a cure for aids or that marijuana is an appropriate Medicine for every aids patient said Randall the first . Citizen to win legally prescribed marijuana used to treat his glaucoma. But marijuana can significantly improve the Quality of life available to those aids patients who Are unable to eat and suffer severe weight loss ran Dall said