A PARISIAN DIVERSION?

French government and intelligence officials tell Sancton they believe the Interior ministry publicized the affair now to divert attention from a wiretapping scandal that has crippled the presidential campaign of French Premier Edouard Balladur. At the White House today, McCurry dropped a similar suggestion. Sancton notes that rumors of these activities have been floating around for two years; U.S. Ambassador Pamela Harriman was informed in late January.