Date: August 18, 1995

By BARRY SCHWEID

AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department is not questioning the motives of China in delaying action on visa applications from hundreds of American women, but some women are suspicious as time grows short to make arrangements to attend an international conference.

The women are eager to challenge the Chinese government on its treatment of political dissidents and minorities at a 10-day conference beginning Aug. 30. Only a few have been granted visas.

Suzanne Kindervatter, director of the Commission for the Advancement of Women, said Friday that only one of 45 relief and refugee agencies that are part of a coalition had received visas.

She said the Chinese had lost paperwork sent by two agencies.

"The Chinese have no record of them ever having sent in their application and paperwork," she said. "We are not finding any recourse, any help, in problem-solving."

She added: "The State Department is gathering information and they're very supportive and helpful, but they're not able to advocate individual cases."

Without drawing any conclusions from the delay, David Johnson, a department spokesman, voiced concern and said the Chinese government had an obligation to act on the visa requests.

The United Nations, which is sponsoring a parallel World Conference On Women in Beijing Sept. 4-15, has been asked to assist the women from nongovernmental organizations who plan to meet in Hairou, 35 miles away, Aug. 30-Sept. 8. Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff also will raise the problem during talks in Beijing beginning Thursday, Johnson said.

"We've made clear to the Chinese government that the NGO conference is a fundamental and integral part of the fourth World Conference on Women and that we expect them to facilitate the participation of nongovernmental organizations at this conference," Johnson said.

The groups facing difficulty include proponents of Tibetan and gay rights and of various religious views.

Among the women whose visa requests have not be approved are members of the Washington office of Amnesty International USA.

Patricia Rengel, chief legislative counsel for the human rights watchdog group, said the problems were deeper than the holdup.

"There are no accommodations in Hairou," she said. "The Chinese required us to reregister for hotel space by the 15th of July. They're actually building private apartments. Even with these they can only accommodate 10,000 people, but there are 38,000 attending. They're going to have to be housed in Beijing and shuttled back and forth."

She said that indicated "a lack of interest in the Chinese in hosting the forum and their desire to make it as difficult as possible for women to participate effectively both in the NGO forum and in lobbying government representatives who will be there."