By William C. Mann

From: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, September 13, 1995

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Dalai Lama, the exiled Buddhist leader who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent advocacy of self-rule for Tibet, will call Wednesday on Vice President Al Gore.

President Clinton received the Tibetan spiritual and political leader during two previous visits to Washington but appeared to be avoiding a formal meeting with him this time so as not to irritate already raw relations with China.

In making the low-keyed announcement of Wednesday's meeting, Gore's office said Clinton is expected to drop by. The vice presidential spokesman did not announce the time of the meeting and said no press photographers will be allowed.

``China will see this as a sign of weakness and as an indication that its pressure on the U.S. is working,'' John Ackerly, director of the Tibetan advocacy group, International Campaign for Tibet, said in a statement.

``It appears that the president is more concerned about the reaction of leaders in Beijing rather than the reaction of leaders and the public in this country.''

Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., conservative chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a strong critic of China's policies, hosted the Dalai Lama for coffee in the Capitol on Tuesday with members of the committee. Helms has chided Clinton frequently for allegedly being too soft on Beijing.

Relations between China and the United States have been deteriorating in recent months, especially since Clinton gave in to pressure from Congress last June and allowed the president of Taiwan to enter the country for a private visit to his the university he attended in New York. China, which considers Taiwan a rebellious province, withdrew its ambassador in protest.

At the State Department, spokesman Nicholas Burns on Tuesday denied that the United States was soft-pedaling the Dalai Lama's private visit.

``We're not avoiding the Dalai Lama,'' he said. ``You know ... his visit is privately sponsored.

``I expect that as in recent years when he has visited this country and this capital he will be received at a very high level in our government, a level that will demonstrate our respect for him and the courtesy that is due him as a very senior and respected world figure.''

Burns said the Dalai Lama had not requested meetings with anyone in the State Department.