Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

463. Telegram 3330 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State¹ ²

Mexico City, June 17, 1971, 0115Z

Subj:

• US Training of Mexican Police as Related to Student Disturbances

For Deputy Assistant Secretary Hurwitch and ARA/MEX

Ref:

• A) Mexico 40
• B) Mexico 232
• C) Mexico 227

1. We are deeply concerned over possibility that USG may be linked by hostile elements to recent student disturbances, especially the violent June 10 riots, through our training program for up to 20 Mexican police officials.

2. To review history of police training program briefly, Department will recall that in beginning of January Foreign Secretary Rabasa urgently asked Ambassador for USG assistance in arranging for special observation and training program for selected Mexicans in police work and crowd control. Rabasa twice told Ambassador (ref A) and Under Secretary Gallastegui, in response to a direct question (para. 7, ref A), also told DCM that this project and request for USG assistance had full blessing of President echeverria. Individual selected by Mexican Government to set up and coordinate this program and whose appointment with the Embassy was arranged by Foreign Secretariat, was Col. Manuel Diaz Escobar, who traveled to US in January to work out program with AID and FBI officials. Following these discussions, USG offered and GOM accepted training program at AID-sponsored International Police Academy in Washington for four 18-week courses for a total of up to 20 Mexican police officials. The first group of five began training March 8 and scheduled to finish July 9; the second and third of six each began April 19 and May 17 and scheduled to end August 20 and September 19; a final group of three is scheduled to begin August 9 and end December 10. It would thus appear that none of the trainees has yet returned to Mexico, though we would appreciate ARA/MEX confirmation of this with the International Police Academy.

3. Department will recall that at time program was being considered, Embassy expressed concern over possibility that groups trained in US might return to Mexico and play leading role in the “Halcones,” dealing harshly and perhaps even outside the law with student leaders and demonstrators (para eight Mexico’s 40). For reasons given reftels, Embassy nevertheless recommended and Department concurred that we cooperate with modest police training program. Recent events show that our concern was more than justified.

4. As Mexico’s 3273 (para 7) mentioned, Excelsior on June 13 ran front page article identifying Col. Diaz Escobar as Director of the “Halcones” who are widely believed and identified in press as having been principle causes of bloodshed on June 10, which some sources say reached as high as over 100 killed. This afternoon’s Ultimas Noticias repeats that Col. Diaz Escobar has been mentioned in the Attorney General’s investigation as chief or commander of “special group.”

5. Diaz Escobar was close to Mexico City regent Martinez Dominguez, who has just resigned under fire, and although he remains in his present position, he stands a good chance of being officially blamed in the Attorney General’s investigation for the excessive force used against the demonstrators. It is conceivable that he or other officials blamed for the bloodshed might seek to draw a red herring across the controversy by trying to implicate USG in this affair through our training program. Also, hostile elements in the press such as Excelsior or Siempre, as well as various leftist groups would be delighted to see the US share the blame for these occurrences.

6. On the face of it and dealing strictly with the facts, the USG is completely clean in this matter. We were officially asked by the Foreign Secretary for a police training program, the Mexican Government itself designated Col. Diaz Escobar as coordinator of the program, the trainees were all certified to us to be qualified police officials and none of the trainees, so far as we know, have yet returned to Mexico. It was only our own inside information that linked Diaz Escobar to the “Halcones.” However hostile elements need only play up the facts that Diaz Escobar, Commander of the “Halcones” had been in contact with the US Embassy, had visited Washington to consult with US officials (and had also accompanied Martinez Dominguez to the Indianapolis Conference on Cities) and that he had set up training program, presumably for “Halcones”, with USG assistance, and great damage could be done to us. Embassy therefore recommends that we be prepared to deal immediately with any public linkage of USG with Diaz Escobar and June 10 events.

7. We have prepared statement in septel for immediate use such event. Department’s immediate consideration of this proposed statement is requested so that comments may be received by 11:00 a.m. June 17 Mexico time if possible. Charge has appointment at noon with Under-Secretary Gallastegui and proposes to tell him of our concern based on press linkage of Diaz Escobar with “Halcones”, to remind him of our GOM-requested police training program, and to leave with him text of proposed statement we would plan to issue if necessary. Charge would also suggest that selected other elements of Mexican Government should, perhaps be made aware at high level of our training program if they already do not know it. We have in mind Attorney General Sanchez Vargas, and President’s Secretary Fausto Zapata (as well as President Echeverria himself). We believe this would be useful, even if the statement never was to be issued, to let GOM know that we are concerned over possible damage to US/Mexican relations out of irresponsible and unfounded attempts to connect us to June 10 riots, whether by official investigation or “accidental” leaks to press.

8. We also strongly recommend that Department do whatever it can to insure that no publicity whatsoever be given inadvertently or otherwise to Mexican police training by International Police Academy or anyone else. We are taking similar steps here to assure no leakage from this Embassy. Obviously there should also be no USG comments on current internal Mexican political problems.

9. Summary of actions requested:

• A. Department’s consideration of and comments on proposed statement by 11:00 a.m., June 17.
• B. Department’s concurrence and/or comments on course of action outlined above.
• C. Department’s doing all possible to assure no leaks or public release concerning Mexican police training program.
• D. Confirmation that none of current trainees have yet returned to Mexico.

Kubisch

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 787, Country Files, Latin America, Mexico, Vol. II, January 1, 1970–December 31, 1972. Secret; Exdis; Immediate. A stamped notation on the telegram indicates that Part 2 was received in the White House Situation Room at 8:36 a.m. and Part 1 was received at 8:37 a.m. on June 17.
2. The Embassy expressed its concern “over possibility USG may be linked by hostile elements to recent student disturbances, especially the violent June 10 riots, through our training program for up to 20 Mexican police officials.”