Excerpt from report by Radio Australia

Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer, is not commenting on reports that the prime minister has been advised not to meet Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who will be in Australia next month [14th-15th September]. The Foreign Affairs Department has reportedly told John Howard that such a meeting would adversely affect Australia's relationship with China. Mr Downer says he won't be commenting on what he describes as speculation about the Dalai Lama's visit...

Source: Radio Australia external service, Melbourne, in English 0700 gmt 12, Aug 96