78. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rogers) to Secretary of State Kissinger 1

Mexico: Echeverria’s Allegations of CIA Involvement in Demonstration Against Him.

You are familiar with the March 14 incident at the National University of Mexico in which President Echeverria characterized students heckling him as “fascists” and “young people manipulated by the CIA.” Echeverria did not repeat the allegation after departing the campus under a barrage of rocks, bottles and jeers, but a number of his Ministers took up the cudgel and made public allusions to CIA activities in Mexico. The press, of course, gave heavy play to the incident and the statements.

We have taken the following actions with regard to these statements.

Bill Bowdler asked Ambassador de Olloqui to come to the Department on March 17 and categorically denied U.S. involvement in the incident, expressed deep concern over such unfounded allegations, and asked de Olloqui to relay these views to Rabasa.

—Ambassador Jova made a similar representation to Foreign Under Secretary Gallastegui.

—Ambassador Jova, has, of course, firmly denied CIA involvement in the University affair to Mexican and American newsmen.

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Subsequent to these actions Echeverria sent a personal emissary to Ambassador Jova’s home to convey Echeverria’s personal and official assurances of friendship for the U.S. and his personal esteem for Jova. The emissary stated that while Echeverria regretted the need to allude to the CIA “this was a political necessity.” Despite his recognition that there was no CIA involvement, to have accused students of being communist . . . would merely have been to sanctify them in their own eyes. Echeverria was concerned over the Agee book allegations, which would increasingly be used against him. In response, Jova pointed out that the confrontational language Echeverria and other Mexican officials were impelled to resort to made it more difficult for both governments to carry out the cooperative relationships for which we are working.

Additional press interest in the incident was stimulated by wire service stories that we had protested the allegations to de Olloqui. Rabasa, in response to questions generated by the stories, said de Olloqui had telephonically relayed our protest to him and the Mexican Government was considering its formal reply. However, Rabasa later “clarified” his remarks, saying that our approach had not been a formal protest and thus, Mexico would not reply.

We got an inkling of another possible chapter in this tale when on March 21 the Venezuelan Ambassador told me a vague and confused story of another student disturbance involving Echeverria and visiting Venezuelan President Perez. He said that Echeverria had said that the demonstration was not against him but against Perez because Venezuela had just nationalized important oil companies and the demonstrators had been instigated by the CIA to embarrass Perez. Our Embassy in Mexico has been unable to get any confirmation of this story, which may well be an embellishment of the original incident.

What Now?

Ambassador Jova, as a result of conversations with a number of high level Mexican officials, believes the GOM, now that Echeverria’s emissary has visited Jova, would like to forget the whole incident. Jova believes, and I agree, that our best course, having made our concern and displeasure known through de Olloqui and Gallastegui, would now be to allow the incident to fade away. We cannot, of course, be certain that Echeverria will not in the future use the CIA as a whipping boy for “domestic political purposes.” If that contingency arises we would want to take a careful look at what response might be effective in discouraging Echeverria from making such statements.

  1. Summary: Rogers reported on the Department’s response to an allegation made by Echeverría that Mexican students protesting against him were directed by the CIA.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, ARA/MEX Files: Lot 77D264, POL 1–2, Basic Policies (Echeverría), 1975. Confidential. Drafted by Dreyfuss on March 25 and cleared by Luers. In telegram 2333 from Mexico City, March 15, the Embassy reported on the March 14 incident in which students at the national university heckled Echeverría, prompting him to charge that they were “manipulated by the CIA.” (Ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, D750090–0961) In telegram 62479/Tosec 792 to Jerusalem, March 20, the Department informed Kissinger of Echeverría’s charge and noted Ford’s desire for a firm protest. (Ibid., D750096–0554) In telegram 559/Secto 399 from Jerusalem, March 20, Kissinger disapproved a letter to Rabasa that Rogers had proposed and requested the message be presented verbally to the Mexican Ambassador. (Ibid., D750097–0360) In telegram 2507 from Mexico City, March 21, the Embassy reported that an emissary from Echeverría stated the President had only alleged CIA involvement in student protests for domestic political reasons. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Latin America, 1974–1977, Box 5, Mexico—State Department Telegrams—To Secstate—Exdis) In telegram 2960 from Mexico City, April 5, the Embassy reported on an apparent suspicion in official Mexican circles that the U.S. Government was foster-ing subversive activity. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750118–0049)