Mexico Decries Senate Vote for Drug Sanctions

Mexican officials reacted angrily Friday to the U.S. Senate’s vote to impose economic sanctions on Mexico for allegedly not doing enough to fight the drug trade.

The Foreign Ministry called the Senate vote on Thursday an “intervention” and said in a formal protest: “No power can claim for itself the right to certify the conduct of other societies or governments. No one has the right to impose from abroad conduct, ideas, political or economic systems on other peoples.”

In Washington, the State Department on Friday warned that the 63-27 Senate vote could actually lead to an increase in drug traffic.

‘Castigates a Friend’

“Far from serving as a catalyst for action, this vote castigates a friend for less than perfect behavior,” department spokesman Charles Redman said.

The House is expected to approve a similar measure soon. However, President Reagan has said that he will reject sanctions on Mexico as contrary to U.S. national security interests.

The Senate acted under the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which requires the government to slash by 50% certain foreign aid to countries that are not “fully cooperative” in halting the flow of drugs into the United States. It also places curbs on loans to such countries.

The Senate decision did not surprise Mexican officials, but many said they were disappointed.

Often Accused of Role

Mexican officials have often been singled out in the United States by politicians and the news media as corrupt and accused of participating in or permitting drug traffic.

The Mexican attorney general’s office, which says it has lost more than 30 agents in battles with drug traffickers in the last three years, issued a statement after the Senate vote charging that the sacrifice of those who lost their lives “does not appear to interest those who condemn an effort they are ignorant of or prefer to remain ignorant of.”