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Clinton urges Japan to fix shaky economy
NEW YORK (AP) — In a show of sympathy
for Japan’s economic predicament. President
Clinton said Thesday that while the world wants
Tokyo to kick-start its long-slumping economy,
he is willing to give the Japanese government
leeway to do “what is politically possible.”
Clinton remarked to reporters after a one-
hour private conversation with Prime Minister
Keizo Obuchi. It was their first meeting since
Obuchi took office July 30 with promises to spur
Japanese economic growth and stabilize its
weak banking system.
“They have to work out what is politically
possible,” Clinton said, alluding to disagreement
in Tokyo over how to stimulate the economy
and to the shaky state of Obuchi’s compromise
with opposition parties last week to deal with
billions of dollars in bad bank debt.
Reporters also tried to question Clinton about
the Monica Lewinsky affair. He responded
merely, “I don’t have anything to add to what
ever the White House is saying.” Clinton said,
as he has often recently, that he is focusing on
official business.
For a second day in a row, Clinton sought to
keep his focus on foreign policy. Tuesday’s U.S.-
Japanese talks lasted about three hours, in
cluding a working luncheon, and produced no
breakthroughs. The two sides issued joint state
ments pledging to cooperate on civilian uses for
Global Positioning System satellites and on the
Year 2000 computer conversion problem.
Aides said the two leaders got on well, agree
ing quickly to call each other by their first
names. Obuchi noted wryly that at home his
critics have likened him to cold pizza — to
which Clinton replied that he liked cold pizza
and in fact had eaten some the night before.
In recent weeks both TYeasury Secretary
Robert Rubin and U.S. TYade Representative
Charlene Barshefsky have delivered urgent mes
sages from the administration that Japan, mired
in its worst recession in 50 years, must deal
more aggressively with its own economic prob
lems to help lift its troubled Asian neighbors
from their own steep recessions.
“They [the
Japanese] have
unique challenges.”
- BILL CLINTON
PRESIDENT
In Tokyo, Japanese stocks rebounded on
hopes Obuchi would promise Clinton more
forceful steps to boost the economy. In their
talks at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in midtown
Manhattan, the leaders agreed that effective ac
tion by Japan is essential, but Obuchi offered no
assurances that new remedies are in the offing.
Lawrence Summers, the deputy treasury sec
retary, told reporters after Tuesday’s meetings
that Clinton “stressed the importance of swift
and effective action.” He said Obuchi made
clear he agreed but said the Japanese parliament
needs time to work out legislation.
Presidential press secretary Mike McCurry
said that while Clinton stressed urgency in his
private discussions with Obuchi, the president
wanted the American public to appreciate
Japan’s difficulties.
“They have unique challenges” that Ameri
cans need to understand, Clinton told reporters.
“I think there is virtually unanimous sup
port in the world for the kind of financial re
forms that would restore economic growth in
Japan,” Clinton said. “The rest of us want to
be encouraging.”
In his brief remarks, Obuchi was noncom
mittal about prospects for getting banking re
forms passed.
“I’m neither optimistic nor pessimistic on
this,” Obuchi said. He added: “I am convinced
that we will be able to do something.”
Clinton and Obuchi, who is the epitome of the
consensus-seeking Japanese politician, also held
a 45-minute session that included their top eco
nomic aides. They held a working luncheon be
fore Clinton headed back to Washington for an
evening reception with black religious leaders.
Clinton invited Obuchi to visit the United
States early next year, and Obuchi accepted.
They were to have met in the secluded setting
of the Rockefeller family estate at Tarrytown, N. Y.,
but that plan was scratched at the last minute be
cause bad weather made the helicopter ride too
risky. Both leaders were in New York for Mon
day’s opening of the U.N. General Assembly.
‘Gay Jesus’play o[
NEW YORK (AP) — The cur
tain went up TUesday on an off-
Broadway play about a gay Christ-
like figure that infuriated religious
groups and sparked death threats
months before it even opened.
Several members of the Fran
ciscan Friars of the Renewal —
who wore gray robes and sandals,
some carrying crosses — held a
prayer vigil outside the theater as
“Corpus Christi,” Terrence Mc
Nally's show about a gay Christ-
like figure, debuted to a full house.
About 100 people protested,
with some carrying placards say
ing “Why mock Jesus Christ” and
“Don't Support Blasphemy." A
70-year-old woman protesting the
play was arrested for disorderly
conduct, police said.
“Certain segments of the arts
community seem obsessed with
sex. and ... they're projecting it
onto Jesus Christ,” Rick Hin-
shaw, a spokesman for the
Catholic League for Religious
and Civil Rights, said. “It’s just
the misportrayal, blasphemous
portrayal of Jesus.”
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depicted a gay Jesus character
who has sex with his apostles set
off a furor las;
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Coupon discount not applicable to
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FOLEY'S
DALLAS ‘ iiq play,
from now, ro* r 531(1
telling their ars in .1 rc
the summer of -ne series
seemed lo bdfe backed o
to a hard enan - ^ons.
Security g.. didn’t h<
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Mary Jo Wa! 1 a two for
how they wett ed not wai
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twice to Color:
awfuhete te
i ng or cooler
do Chuck E. Ctii
Walker said.
For this wasf
deadliest andcoi^
Texas history. Ait
sarily over justly
dar says it’s I
Just how hoi«-[
Fifty-one timel
seven weeks in:
highs reached oh
grees. Sundown it
with overnight te'
ping no lowertl
record 38 times.
Dallas-Fort Wo:
hottest May-Augd
Overall temperat-
85.9 degrees, exerf/^^
average in 1%D.
At least 131 petf
heat in Texas,:
immigrants neati
der. About
1980, excludingil
It was the secotf
August on record' 1
of rain. Only totheP
of 1934 was drier.
The drought oil-
as the costliestsinuj
dry stretch of the lq
cultural losses estiif/
at more than $2.1 b®*-
Texas Utilities Ele'
trie bills were upa» ;
percent over lastyO :
sumption reached if
with 708 million gat
Dallas residents July
lion gallons moretliJ'-
record set Aug. 23, h
Trees, shrubs
scorched brown by ^
heat. Many plants sit
Similar stories cot S
surrounding states,s
lahoma, where thet) DC COI
people and rainfall^ p,
below normal. • Lflc
“I’m real glad t
over,” Luke Duel,#;y 0U know
Oklahoma’s Logan i
“It’s been a long.ho'u’re bursti
Soil, like Texas 0 f ^5
Nolan Ryan — a 0*
pitcher even intohii! want the
summer showed it . , ,
late-career heat. ' a
were expected to consulting 0
the 90s later this wet
Sheryl Boyles, 41- as to wor
courier who drives m
miles every day, has©199 8 Anders
turn off the air condi:
vehicle. Don’t trytei
fall, she said, "notui
perature changes.”
all;
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