Reagan Assures De la Madrid of Support on Debt

President Reagan, eager to put U.S.-Mexican relations on a better footing, assured Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid on Wednesday that his Administration is “prepared to do its part” to help the Mexican economy survive its debt crisis and compete successfully for American markets.

As evidence of the renewed spirit of cooperation, Reagan announced that a six-year embargo on the importation of tuna from Mexico will be lifted and that a “framework agreement on trade and investment” will be negotiated between the two countries by the end of this year to encourage further commerce.

Mexico Seized Vessels

The tuna embargo was put in place in 1980 after American fishing vessels were seized by Mexican officials for allegedly violating jurisdictional boundaries. There have been no seizures since, and an Administration official said that the Mexicans are now willing to discuss the boundary issue, “which has been a problem for the last 25 years.”

The official also said he believes the impact on domestic markets of Mexican tuna would be minimal because the United States imports more than half of its tuna. He said he expects the Mexicans to sell tuna to U.S. companies, which would can the fish elsewhere.

On the drug front, Reagan did not make a public issue of the still-unresolved case of Enrique S. Camarena, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was kidnaped and murdered in Mexico early last year. An Administration official who briefed reporters said that Reagan raised the issue privately and received assurances from De la Madrid that his government is aggressively pursuing the perpetrators of the crime.

While Mexican officials have made about 100 arrests in the Camarena case, those responsible for ordering the murder have not been taken into custody.

The masterminds “are not yet in jail because it touches too close to some people who are pretty powerful,” said another Administration official, adding that the investigation “may have gone as far as it’s going, but we’re not willing to say that.”

Differences over the handling of the unresolved Camarena case have strained U.S-Mexican relations for the last year and a half. Wednesday’s meeting at the White House was designed to officially signal a change of tone as the two presidents seek to put the controversial case behind them and embark on a new era of cooperation on both economic and drug issues.

As they stood outside the diplomatic entrance to bid farewell before a bank of cameras, expressions of warmth and gratitude dominated their remarks.

Reagan called De la Madrid “a good friend and neighbor” and praised him for his “courageous and determined effort to face problems and turn a difficult situation around.”

The Mexican president thanked Reagan for his “warm hospitality” and declared, “This conversation has been particularly satisfactory.” He said that the two governments agreed that, “beginning today,” they should make “an extraordinary effort to strengthen and improve our relations.”

Drug Fight Commitment

One area of particular interest to Reagan is the extent of De la Madrid’s commitment to control Mexico’s burgeoning drug traffic, particularly cocaine. In his public remarks, De la Madrid called narcotics “this cancer of modern society” and said that “international cooperation is absolutely necessary” to combat drugs.

Despite the Mexican government’s apparent foot-dragging on the Camarena investigation, an official who took part in the White House meeting said that De la Madrid made “a categorical commitment” to fight drug trafficking in his country. “What we really hoped for in these visits is a joint declaration of war against drugs, and I think that’s what you saw,” he said.

In meetings on Capitol Hill, De la Madrid said he will consider permitting “hot pursuit” of drug offenders across the Mexican border. Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), among the lawmakers who met with De la Madrid, said the possibility of allowing U.S. planes to fly into Mexico airspace in pursuit of planes believed to be carrying illegal drugs also was discussed.

No U.S. Ambassador

The Administration’s lines of communication with Mexico have been somewhat hampered in recent months because a new U.S. ambassador has not yet been named to replace John Gavin, who resigned in April.

An Administration official confirmed that the leading candidate for the post is Charles J. Pilliod Jr., 68, a longtime Republican party contributor and the retired chief executive of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

In what appeared to be something of a dress rehearsal Tuesday night, Pilliod joined the visiting Mexican delegation for a river cruise on the Potomac River hosted by Secretary of State George P. Shultz.