Inside Washington

WASHINGTON -- Seeking an official "star witness" to testify this week on the Haiti occupation, the House Foreign Relations Committee was hoping for an important Administration figure like Secretary of State Warren Christopher. But the White House refused to cooperate, concerned that its spokesman would be savaged by Republican committee members. Then word got out that the committee was about to call on a well-known "unofficial" witness: free- lancer Jimmy Carter. Figuring that it would be preferable to take a predictable beating than to be dodging loose-cannon fire, the White House quickly reconsidered its position. The likely Administration witness at this week's Haiti hearings: Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.