51.   Talks with Russia continue and the Bush administration hopes they will lead to an agreement to end the ABM treaty and allow tests on a defense system.

52.   That is the commitment the Clinton administration was hoping for.

53.   The administration had hoped to open free-trade talks late this year or next year with Chile and possibly with other Latin American nations.

54.   The administration hoped this year would bring calmer relations with China, culminating in a summit meeting between President Clinton and President Jiang Zemin in the fall.

55.   The administration hopes Barak will make that point in visits Tuesday to Congress, which has pushed strongly for the embassy move.

56.   The administration hopes that the threat of an invasion makes the reality unnecessary.

57.   The administration hopes to bring the authorizing legislation to congressional votes within a week or so, administration officials said.

58.   The administration hopes to have Cellucci installed before a hemispheric trade summit in Canada in late April, according to one official.

59.   The administration also hopes to influence Fed policy indirectly, through business leaders and others who agree with its concerns about current interest rate policy.

60.   The administration clearly hopes to minimize further revisions in its plan.