186. Telegram 11441 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State1 2
Mexico City, December 30, 1975, 2351Z
Subj:
- Visit of Attorney General Levi
ARA for Assit. Sec. Rogers; S/NM for Vance; DEAO for EOI Cusack
Ref:
- Mexico 11322
- 1.
- Attorney General Levi and Mexican Attorney General Pedro Ojeda Paullada met in Acapulco on December 29, 1975. The Mexican Attorney General had interrupted his vacation in Cozumel to fly to Acapulco to meet Mr. Levi on his arrival. On the Mexican side, Ojeda was backed up by Dr. Alejandro Gertz Manero, his overall campaign coordinator. On the United States side, in addition to Attorney General Levi, were Ambassador Jova, DEA campaign coordinator Heath, and Embassy Narcotics Coordinator Alberti.
- 2.
- The atmosphere of the meeting was very cordial, but also expressive of great earnestness and concern on both sides. Mr. Levi opened the conversation by explaining that he carried a personal message from President Ford for the Mexican Attorney General. President wished to underline his extreme concern at the amount of Mexican heroin flooding the United States and his interest in knowing whether there were anything USG might do further to enhance the eradication campaign. Mr. Levi described the President’s desire to do everything possible to help the Mexican Government carry out a successful campaign this year, stressing that the recent congressional demarche by Mr. Rangel’s group, and other political pressures on the administration were symptomatic of the public demands that serious inroads be made into the supply of Mexican heroin available in the United States. Mr. Levi said that if he had not planned a vacation in Acapulco at this time, President Ford undoubtedly would have sent him down to Mexico anyway to discuss the problem with the Mexican Attorney General.
- 3.
- The Mexican Attorney General replied to Mr. Levi, asking him to tell President Ford that the Mexican Government had been working for many years on the poppy eradication campaigns and that each year had been an increase in results; but that hitherto the results had not been satisfactory despite the good efforts of the Mexican Government. This year, however, the AG wished to assure President Ford that the Mexican Government would have a highly successful campaign, far better than any previous.
- 4.
- There followed a lengthy discussion of the problems of the present intensified campaign, and requests by the GOM for specific items of assistance arising out of them (see subsequent telegram). Mr. Levi and Ambassador Jova asked searching questions, based largely on points in reftel; these and Ojeda’s answers, will also be reported later.
- 5.
- Amb. Jova noted that in choosing Mr. Levi as the bearer of his personal message, President Ford was emphasizing his administration’s great anxiety over the narcotics problem, while at the same time a written demarche by the Department of State might perhaps be avoided. Ojeda expressed his great appreciation on the President’s tact and consideration in using Mr. Levi as his emissary, and said he very much hoped there would be no need for a written demarche since the approach had already been on such a high level. He said he was confident that an urgent infusion of additional equipment and personnel would save the campaign and indeed convert it into a great success.
- 6.
- Both Attorneys General agreed that the details of this meeting should receive minimal or no press publicity, and Ojeda asked specifically that it not be portrayed as the USG making demands on the GOM. That, he said, would only force him into a counterproductive, defensive public posture which would be no good for either side.
Jova