VLBI POLARIZATION OBSERVATIONS OF THE RAPIDLY VARIABLE BL LACERTAE OBJECT BL-0716+714

New polarization-sensitive global VLBI and VLBA images of the BL Lacer tae object BL 0716+714 at 6 cm (1991.43) and 3.6 cm/1.3 cm (1994.22) a re presented. The source shows a compact, one-sided core-jet structure in structural position angle similar to 13 degrees. Comparison with p reviously published data suggests that the apparent velocity of a 6 cm jet component is > 0.82 +/- 0.11c, if the redshift of BL 0716+714 is z > 0.3 (H-o = 100 km s(-1) Mpc(-1); q(0) = 0.5). Linear polarization from the VLBI core was detected at all three frequencies. In addition, polarization from the innermost jet component was detected at 1.3 cm. This compact jet polarization is quite high, similar to 50%, and is a ligned with the jet direction, suggesting it is a transverse shock. Th e VLBI core polarization at our earlier epoch was perpendicular to the VLBI jet direction, but aligned with the jet direction at the later e poch, about three years later. The available evidence suggests that th e very rapid variability that is sometimes observed in BL 0716+714 occ urs on more compact scales than those imaged by our VLB array.