Rebuff to the OAS

"The President of the Republic of Mexico has resolved to maintain our contacts with the government of Cuba in their present state." With that, Mexico's Foreign Minister last week served notice that his country will refuse to impose the economic and diplomatic sanctions voted by the Organization of American States last month. To break relations with Cuba, added the Foreign Minister, "will aid no one in any form, and would prejudice the interests of an infinite number of persons."

Castro coddling? Not in Mexico's view. At home, the government sedulously harasses domestic Communists, and its relations with Cuba are, at best, coldly correct. But the Mexicans believe that their Havana embassy and air link with Cuba provide an escape route. More important, Mexico vigorously resists anything that smacks of follow-the-leader--in this case, the U.S. So last month, it had joined Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay--the three other Latin American countries still maintaining relations with Cuba--in voting against the OAS sanctions. With last week's action, Mexico itself became a leader of sorts. Bolivia and Chile started wavering in their plans for a break in relations; only Uruguay appeared ready to follow through soon.

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