Mexico Slow to Accept U.S. Aid : San Diego Agencies Gather Goods, Wait for Word

After worshiping at Friday’s noon Mass at the Old Plaza Church near Olvera Street in Los Angeles, Natalie Lopez walked past the courtyard shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the church office to donate money for the victims of Thursday’s devastating Mexican earthquake.

“I feel bad for them,” Lopez explained with a hesitant smile. “I have a family in Mexico, in Guadalajara. In Guadalajara they feel the earthquake too. I passed by the church, and I thought I would come by and leave $5.”

Across Southern California, the nation and the world, myriads of individuals, relief organizations and government officials launched efforts Friday to help the injured and homeless of southern Mexico.

Mexico, however, sought Friday to maintain its cherished economic independence in the face of disaster and said that at least for the time being, Mexico intends to decline most American disaster aid.

Sending Experts

Ambassador Jorge Espinosa de los Reyes, meeting with Secretary of State George P. Shultz, made only two requests for U.S. help, asking for Bureau of Mines technicians skilled in locating bodies buried deep underground and American demolition experts to assist in removing damaged buildings. Shultz said both groups would be sent as soon as possible.

Espinosa de los Reyes told Shultz that Mexico was not yet ready to accept most of the help that Americans offered to Mexican earthquake victims. However, he said the government might accept some help later once it knows the extent of the disaster.

“Right now, the Mexican government has the situation under control,” the ambassador told reporters in Washington, with Shultz standing at his side. “Let’s assess the need of the people--let’s really see the extent of the damage, and let’s see what Mexico needs from abroad.”

“Then,” he continued, “we will be able to accept foreign aid from any country, from any friendly institution or private citizen in order to assist those who are in need. But there is no need to rush on this matter until we have precise knowledge.”

Others Approve of Help

Other Mexican officials, however, gladly gave out a Bank of America account number for Americans wishing to contribute money.

Mexico is normally reluctant to accept American aid because it does not want to compromise its independence from its powerful neighbor to the north. Mexico’s cool response was frustrating to the State and Defense departments, which regularly mobilize disaster relief projects.

One State Department official said the U.S. government maintains warehouses in West Virginia and Panama stocked with blankets, water purification kits, tents, medicines and other supplies that can be moved anywhere in the Western Hemisphere on short notice.

“If they asked us to move, we would be more than happy to do so,” the official said.

Could Feed 1 Million

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin said in Mexico City that the United States could provide food for up to 1 million people and emergency shelter to most of Mexico’s earthquake victims if the Mexican government requests aid.

Shultz said the Mexican ambassador “expressed to me his appreciation for the instinctive outpouring that comes from the American people who want to be of assistance,” Shultz said.

The outpouring of aid efforts, however, continued unabated in Los Angeles and throughout the world, and some Mexican representatives indicated that the help would be accepted.

Most San Diego disaster relief groups are mobilized to help victims of the earthquake that rocked Mexico two days ago, but are holding off until officials identify more precisely what kind of help is most needed.

Jim Puccetti, director of operations for Project Concern International of San Diego, said Friday, “The most prudent thing is to keep up with developments and wait for an official assessment of need. The people down there will know best what they need.”

Puccetti’s group reflects the general attitude of San Diego-area based relief organizations.

Almost all of them, however, are accepting contributions of money, with requests that donors specify that their checks be used to help Mexican earthquake victims.

Among those accepting money are the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Project Concern International, the SHARE program of St. Vincent de Paul, and Catholic Relief Services. All are listed in the phone book.

Some groups, however, are accepting contributions of supplies and non-perishable goods.

Father Joe Carroll, head of the the Catholic Relief Services and St. Vincent de Paul Center in San Diego, said, “At this point we don’t know what can be brought into Mexico and how to get it there. But we are collecting blankets, food, clothing and medicine and putting these items in storage until we can take them there.

“This morning we were inundated with calls and with people coming by to drop off their contributions. The response was so overwhelming that we had to hire extra people to unload and store the items. We’ve been getting calls from as far away as Oregon and Washington from people who want to know where to send their cash contributions. The phone has not stopped ringing.”

Spanish-language KMEX-TV Channel 34 in Los Angeles also announced Friday that it is planning a telethon to raise funds for earthquake victims.

Many Want to Give

The State Department said it received a heavy volume of calls from American citizens wishing to help earthquake victims. Department spokesman said the callers were advised to contact the Pan American Health Organization because there was no government-to-government program.

At the United Nations, Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar Friday ordered the chief of the U.N. Disaster Relief Organization to travel from Geneva to Mexico to determine the extent of the quake disaster and relief needs.

The SHARE program of St. Vincent de Paul, which sends a truck to Mexico with food and other supplies monthly, has 1 million pounds of food stored in its warehouse ready for shipment to Mexico once the government or Catholic church gives proper clearances.

Peter Meisen, a spokesman for SHARE, said his group is asking for non-perishable foods, blankets and money. The group is at 5255 Lovelock St.

Charles Hansen, spokesman for Salvation Army in San Diego County, said his organization is mobilized up and down California and is just waiting for the proper signal from authorities in Mexico.

“Until we hear specifically from national headquarters, we won’t begin asking for things,” Hansen said. “We have planes standing by, but we need to know exactly the kind of supplies which are needed. That won’t crystalize until over the weekend, when a group of Salvation Army officials survey the situation.

“We expect there will be a significant need for medical supplies, blankets, clothing, batteries and flashlights.”

Tom Bentley, Latin American regional director for Project Concern International, said in San Diego that “at this point the Mexican government hasn’t requested any outside assistance. My anticipation is the government will be trying to mobilize all their own resources before calling on the international community.

“The Mexican government is very sensitive about being a poor country and not being able to handle its own problems.”

In the same vein, Father Carroll said items sent to Mexico by the Catholic church will be sent to the bishops in the Mexico City area.

“By operating through the bishops in Mexico City, that avoids a lot of government entanglement and we can get the contributions to the neighborhoods quicker,” he said.

In Orange County, the United Way announced at a Santa Ana City Hall press conference that it would commit up to $100,000 to the earthquake victims.

Liga International, a Santa Ana-based medical aid group, scheduled two private planeloads of doctors and volunteers to fly to Mexico today(Saturday) to help the injured.

Los Amigos, a downtown Santa Ana Latino business and professional organization, said it had already collected $7,000, and the Santiago Club, another business association, said it would donate $1,000.

For information about American citizens living in Mexico, contact the Consular Affairs Bureau of the U.S. State Department in Washington. The bureau is relaying messages from citizens through the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. 202-653-7959.

In addition to the agencies listed above, those wishing to provide assistance to victims of the Mexican earthquake may contact one of the following:

Donations on behalf of Terremoto (earthquake) Mexico may be made to any Bank of America branch, account No. 0300 103 000.

Monetary donations for reconstruction, rebuilding and services through the Save the Children Fund, P.O. Box 980, Westport, Conn., 06881.

Telephone pledges through World Vision at 1-800-423-4200. Donations to World Vision, Box 0, Pasadena, 91109.

Donations to the American Friends Service Committee special Mexican Earthquake Relief Fund at AFSC, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102.

Monetary contributions to Mexican Relief through the American Jewish Distribution Committee, Room 1914, 60 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y., 10165.

Pan American Health Organization: (202) 861-4325.