October 23, 1989
Dear Mr. McGuire:
I am grateful for your invitation to be interviewed about our work for broadcast in China.  I am, however, reluctant to participate in an event that could be construed as indicating sympathy for the current regime, rather than for those (many of them likely to be our best listeners) who suffer under it.  Time may have passed since June 4, but I am unwilling to help ease "strained relations" unless there is also clear evidence of a change in policy.
I certainly hope that such change will occur in the near future and that we can then speak freely with our Chinese colleagues.
Sincerely,
Harold E. Varmus, M.D.