Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

84. Telegram 264529 From the Department of State to the Mission in Geneva¹

Washington, November 7, 1975, 2135Z.

264529. Following repeat Caracas 11526. Action SecState; Info DEA. Mexico 6 Nov.

Quote. Caracas 11526. S/NM for Ambassador Vance, SER/INC for Wampler, DEA/EOI for Cusack. From Ambassador Jova. Subj: Call on Mexican Attorney General.

1. Begin summary. At the AG’s request, I called on him Tuesday morning, November 4. The subject was unspecified but obviously was related to recent publicity in the U.S. concerning Mexican narcotics traffic. As conversation developed, it became apparent that AG’s main thrust was to forestall new USG diplomatic initiatives on narcotics; but in making his presentation, the AG made several very important points. End summary.

2. AG opened conversation by saying that while comments by Senator Percy and Representative Rangel were painful they may have had a net positive result, in that they focused attention on narcotics problem and gave him leverage within the GOM and provided a stimulus to all levels of GOM. He also felt it was better to air criticisms now, while there was still time to effect improvements prior to the end of the Echeverria administration.

3. Speaking, as he said, in confidence and with complete frankness, AG claimed he and his staff are highly dissatisfied, for while they are working hard to attack narcotics traffic their efforts have not produced the hoped-for result. Much more must be done, and he has pinned high hopes on the forthcoming eradication campaign as being productive of a real diminution in the traffic.

4. When white paper on drug abuse was published, AG sought audience with President Echeverria to discuss subject with him. AG said he told President that he did not agree with all recommendations of white paper (particularly with assigning marijuana enforcement a relatively lower priority), but that on balance he considered it a well-intentioned effort with many good ideas. Whether or not we accept USG figures, he commented, we must agree that there is great demand in the U.S. and that large quantities of Mexican-produced heroin are flowing north to satisfy this demand.

5. AG then listed a series of measures he had taken or was taking in connection with forthcoming campaign:

A. He had named Dr Gertz Manero as official mayor of Procuraduria, in capacity of Executive Administrator for the Ministry and for overall coordination of antidrug campaigns.

B. He would assign a new chief of the Aero Services section, an engineer to be taken from Civil Aviation ranks (two candidates are being considered). He pointed out that Aero Services had been deficient; they now were a big-time operation (as large as some Central American Air Forces) and required more qualified personnel to provide leadership.

C. He will replace Lic. Carcamo as Northwest Zone Coordinator, giving him job as inspector of federal attorneys in that area. The new coordinator has not yet been named, but four candidates are under consideration. Any one of these, he felt, would be a net improvement over Carcamo.

D. AG will soon go to Sinaloa, with new coordinator, to inaugurate campaign.

E. AG has seen to it that three army zone commanders in Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Durango (appointed about one year ago) are senior generals in whom he has full confidence, and who are determined to do a good job in eradicating narcotics.

F. He is helping Governors of Sinaloa and Durango by obtaining for them best possible chiefs of State Judicial Police; he hopes he will now get much more use out of these previously parochial and corrupt organs. (The Governor of Chihuahua, an old political fox, had refused to accept suggested candidates.)

G. The campaign this year will begin about one and one-half months earlier, using more equipment and personnel. This will not only get more poppy fields during the harvest season, but will eradicate many at the critical time when they are too early for harvest but too late to be replanted.

H. The AG plans to meet with the owners of radio stations in the northwest area, to attempt to stop the use of public service and personal announcements as codes to warn narcotics traffickers of impending enforcement actions.

I. The AG noted that the biggest problem during the last intensified campaign was in making maximum use of helicopters. The soldiers are available, he said, and the only thing needed to make effective use of them is efficient air support, carried out in accordance with a systematic PLA. He took pen and paper and sketched for us such an operational plan, which in all important respects was the same as that proposed by the U.S. side during the June bilateral meetings. He bases this plan upon the effective use of information supplied by the MOPS system, with the helicopters then depositing troops on a rotational basis in their disparate zones of operation.

J. There would be a class of 120 MFJP agents graduating next week from the MFJP training academy; these were all destined to participate in the upcoming campaign and should more than double the number of trained men available in this field.

6. I asked the AG how he regarded the coincidence of Rep. Rangel and party discovering full flowering poppy fields during their recent trip to the Culiacan area. He replied that he had issued instructions for the pilot to take the group to less-frequented areas of the mountains, rather than to follow the usual and much-travelled air corridor to San Jose Del Llano. He said he had expected the group to encounter some poppy fields in preparation or in the early growing stages, but was very surprised to learn it had found fields actually being harvested. The AG said that there of course were some fields being harvested in Mexico during October, but that it was unfortunate that Rep. Rangel had taken these few fields as an indication that there was large-scale harvesting being carried on during this period, which was not the case. In any case, the fact that Rangel had been taken there by the Procuraduria itself was an indication of good faith.

7. I also asked the AG his impression of the use of herbicides, adding that of course this would be entirely his and his government’s decision. He replied that they were continuing the testing this week, that he was consulting within the GOM and that he would probably be able to inform Ambassador Vance (on November 8) of a more concrete GOM policy on this matter, perhaps even on whether and how herbicide would be used.

8. Obviously zeroing in on the main reason for our conversation, the AG expressed his hope that Secretary Kissinger would not find it necessary formally to approach the GOM on the narcotics question. He asked what else he could do, besides explaining the GOM’s plans and prospects in the months ahead, to convince the USG that the Mexican Government was seriously determined to make a real impact on the narcotics traffic. I suggested that the visit by Ambassador Vance and Mr. Dogin might be the ideal opportunity for him to exchange views and commitments without resorting to written diplomatic communication and suggested that both sides consider advisability of some statement to press after the meeting.

9. While the recent spate of U.S. press criticism concerning the Mexican narcotics problem has been painful for us and for the Attorney General, we are most encouraged by the positive manner in which the AG has responded to it. The AG has of course in the past been very cooperative with us; however, never before have I seen him evidence so determined, forceful and constructive an attitude.

Shlaudeman Unqte.

Kissinger

1. Summary: In a November 4 meeting, Mexican Attorney General Ojeda Paullada responded to U.S. press and congressional criticism of Mexico as a source of illegal narcotics by assuring Jova of his commitment to antinarcotics measures.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750389–0810. Confidential. Drafted and approved by Jeffrey Buczacki in IO/HDC. Jova was in Caracas attending the Department’s annual regional conference on narcotics. In telegrams 9625 and 9913 from Mexico City, November 1 and 11, the Embassy reported that Mexican officials sought to assure the United States of their serious desire to cooperate on the narcotics problem. (Both ibid., D750379–1061, D750392–1008) Kissinger cited these talks as evidence of a high-level Mexican commitment to stemming the flow of illegal drugs in a December 2 letter to Percy, who had criticized Mexico’s performance and called for the Secretary’s personal intervention. (Ibid., P750188–2122)