After the stress classes, he realized that his effort to control the situation was causing anxiety for both him and his wife, so he decided to explore compromises and remain flexible.

Officials familiar with Mr. Baker's letter said that the Secretary expressed his intention to explore possible compromises with an eye to developing formal proposals for presentation in the Vienna talks.

Mr. Baker wants to explore this and other compromises in Israel if Mr. Bush lets him.

His aides said that while he was always willing to explore compromises they doubted very much that the Democrats would give enough ground on serious differences like the limiting of awards in malpractice lawsuits.

Tempers flared at the end of last year, but six months ago, Mr. Clinton ordered American officials to begin exploring possible compromises with the French.

But Mr. Starr is so intent on having the 23 grand jurors hear the President's testimony in person and question Mr. Clinton that he is exploring creative compromises.

Palestinian officials knew that Israel strongly opposed yielding the whole West Bank or accepting the "right of return," and they had explored compromises in the past.

He sends Secretary of State James A. Baker 3d on a series of eight trips to the region to explore compromises that would begin the peace process.

The immediate resumption of hostilities quickly banished any hope that the two sides might have used the August recess to explore compromises in order to move on to debates about Iraq or the budget.

Mr. Abu Sharif's comments suggest a readiness to explore compromises that would fulfill Israel's objections but still give expatriate Palestinians a say in the talks.