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

81. Telegram 7629 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State¹

Mexico City, August 28, 1975, 1751Z.

7629. For ARA—Ryan/Luers. Subj: U.S./Mexican Relations.

1. Assistant Secretary of Interior Fernando Gutierrez Barrios came to see me at the President’s bidding. The President was concerned [less than 1 line not declassified] conversation the day before with Barrios where former had warned that important elements in U.S. Congress were increasingly irritated at having the U.S. kicked around. Gutierrez said President wanted to see me on this (an appointment for Thursday afternoon has since been set up) to discuss what countermeasures he might take to win back the confidence and understanding of U.S. Congress. Perhaps relating this to his recent trip one thought that had occurred to him was possibility of inviting a select group of Congressmen to visit Mexico as his guests for a couple of days of “dialoguing” (favorite expression) at some resort town. He could thus explain domestic and international reasons for his Third World leadership stance, i.e., preempting banners from the Left, and by attempting create better international understanding and a more just and equitable world order, thus helping to “avoid an impending world conflict.”

2. I told Gutierrez that [less than 1 line not declassified] was giving a very useful personal appreciation of the Washington atmosphere, as he had just come from there. At the same time I could assure him that I had received no complaints re the Presidential trip nor any instructions to raise this or related matters at this time.

3. It was nonetheless wise to keep in mind my oft-repeated counsel that the U.S. was in a sensitive mood at this period having undergone both domestic and international crises. Thus, it was particularly painful at this time to have a next-door neighbor and close friend such as Mexico appear to constantly be taking the leadership of opposition against us in multilateral councils. At the same time, bilateral relations were at a very good level and the private assurances and gestures of friendship on the part of the Echeverria government were frequent and appreciated. Nonetheless, some public, as contrasted with private, demonstration of such friendship would undoubtedly be very welcome. I told him that while I would want more time to consider the congressional gimmick, as I saw pitfalls in this, I did think the forthcoming State of the Union message to be given on September 1 would provide a unique and apparently natural opportunity for some expression of regard for the United States and suggested that the Ford/Echeverria visit of last October would be the obvious peg, recalling that it had been President Ford’s desire that this be the first of his visits to take place with a Chief of State.

4. Gutierrez thought this was a most logical suggestion and said he would speak to the President to attempt to assure that the State of the Union message contained at least this type of graceful reference to U.S./Mexican relations. He said that the President wished to speak to me personally and he would be calling back to set the time. Subsequently the time was fixed at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, August 28.

Jova

1. Summary: Mexican Subsecretary of the Interior Gutiérrez Barrios met with Jova to discuss Echeverría’s concern about increasing U.S. congressional criticism of Mexican foreign policy positions seen as hostile to the United States.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. In telegram 7685 from Mexico City, August 29, the Embassy reported on an August 28 meeting in which Echeverría reiterated to Jova his willingness to meet with U.S. Congressmen if doing so might help to address their concerns about Mexican foreign policy. (Ibid., D750300–0350)