Thursday, April 24, 1997 . Page C3 The San Francisco Chronicle

WASHINGTON The Dalai Lama expressed hope in Washington yesterday for winning Tibetan autonomy from a China beset by internal doubts and outside pressures. "The self-confidence among Chinese leaders is no longer there," said the Dalai Lama, who spoke to the World Parliamentarians Convention before meeting with President Clinton.

The spiritual leader of Tibet contrasted today's China, with its problems of corruption, crime and dissent, to past decades when Communist leaders had "genuine conviction that their system could achieve some happy society." "I think the Chinese leadership themselves are in some sort of state of dilemma," the Dalai Lama said in his speech. "The People's Republic of China is in the process of changing."

At the same time, he added, "The spirit of Tibet is strong. We are really determined. We never give up our hope."

The Dalai Lama, a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been in exile since 1959, has been accused by China of using religion as a cover for seeking full Tibetan independence. He insists that he only wants self-rule for Tibet's 6 million people after nearly a half-century of Chinese occupation.

At the White House, Clinton dropped by the Dalai Lama's meeting yesterday with Vice President Al Gore, a maneuver meant to honor the religious leader without upsetting China too much. The White House did the same thing on three of his previous visits.

In a letter read at the parliamentarian meeting, Clinton praised the Dalai Lama, saying his "devotion to the Tibetan people and inspiring advocacy of nonviolence and dialogue have earned the world's lasting admiration." China objected to the White House meeting, as it has in the past. Beijing warned last year that countries whose leaders meet with the Dalai Lama will suffer the consequences in trade and business ties with China. The exiled Tibetan leader also met privately for an hour yesterday with California Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Feinstein, who has a close relationship with both the Dalai Lama and Chinese leaders in Beijing, said there are plenty of opportunities for a reconciliation between the two parties. However, until the Chinese leaders agree to sit down and talk with the Dalai Lama, she said China will "lose credibility."

"Here is a major world figure, representing about 6 million people the bulk of them from China and China won't talk to him," Feinstein said after her meeting. "That is a position that reduces China's credibility among freedom-loving countries around the world."