A senior official who insisted on anonymity said the Administration had discussed the issue with the French in recent days, but refused to characterize the exchange.

Some officials said the Administration had discussed whether a lengthy dispute would force an end to services that are vital to the economy, like air-traffic control.

The Administration has discussed many other sources of revenue, including a national sales tax and higher cigarette taxes.

When the Administration and Congress were discussing those limits for 1992, they didn't know exactly what the 1991 appropriations would be.

For some time now, the Administration has been discussing how much it should do to hasten that outcome, officials said, and the helicopter issue reopened those deliberations.

The assessments come as the Administration discusses what military steps it might take to help deliver aid.

They said that the Administration was also discussing other ways to accomplish this.

General McCaffery said that the Administration was still discussing the question of certification.

One official said the Administration could not even discuss financial inducements without a finding.

Although the Administration has discussed creating a special police force to capture indicted criminals, Ms. Albright announced no new plans today.