Fo rm er U.S. Am b assador to the United Nations Bill Richardson suggested last week that the White House may b e offering an amnesty deal to Mexico in return for supporting its position on Iraq . An article in the French daily Li b eration claimed the Bush administration had offered a direct deal on immigration. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer denied any such suggestions, saying that President Bush "is not offering a quid pro quo" and that Mexico would judge the situation on its merits alone. U.S.-Mexico relations have b een somewhat strained since Septem b er 11; in the months b efore the terrorist attacks, Mr. Bush and President Fox had b een working on a deal to deliver amnesty to Mexicans working illegally in the United States. He did note, however, that the President is in favor of an immigration deal anyway, thus suggesting that should a deal happen after Mexico votes with the US , that the Administration can claim this to b e just a coincidence.

Mexico has one of the seats on the United Nations Security Council. The US is said to b e working b ehind the scenes as much as possi b le in support of a new resolution that will pave the way for an American invasion of Iraq .

Fox has b een lukewa rm to the US ' talk of war with Iraq . "We support multilateral efforts to reach the elim ina tion of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq , and for that nation to comply fully with the resolutions approved b y the United Nations Security Council," Fox recently told a group of American and Mexican b usinessmen. He has said in the past that he favors a UN-led diplomatic approach to Iraq .  Fox's position is consistent with the Mexican pu b lic's views. A recent poll in that country showed 83% opposing the US position.

The following is the transcript from the White House press briefings on Fe b ruary 26th and 27th where Press Secretary Ari Fleischer addressed the controversy:

“Q: Ari , in Mexico , the President will continue to call President Fox to pressure him to change his mind against -- and to vote in the Security Council? What Mexico can get from the United States if it votes yes for the resolution that was presented b y this country?

MR. FLEISCHER: First of all, this entire matter will b e dealt with in a matter of diplomacy and logic and expressions of our position. And nations then will b e in a position as sovereigns to evaluate that info rm ation. This is why the Security Council is set up with 10 mem b ers who rotate on to the Council. This is a moment for 10 nations that would not typically b e on the Security Council to have their moment, as part of the international community's regimes to enforce peace and to fight proliferation.

Q: But Mexico can get something from the United States , from the President --

MR. FLEISCHER: This is a time -- no, the President is not offering quid pro quos. This is a time for nations to do what they estimate is the right thing to do to promote the peace.

Q: Ari , just to follow up on Mexico . Is it true that the administration is willing to give Mexico some sort of immigration agreements like amnesty or guest worker prog ram , to assure the Mexican vote, as the French press is pointing out today and is quoting, actually, two different diplomats from the State Department?

MR. FLEISCHER: No, it's exactly as I indicated, that we have, on this issue, a matter of diplomacy and a matter of the merits. We ask each nation on the Security Council to weigh the merits and m ak e a decision a b out war and peace. And if any b ody thinks that there are nations like Mexico , whose vote could b e b ought on the b asis of a trade issue or something else like that, I think you're giving -- doing grave injustice to the independence and the judgment of the lea ders of other nations.

Q: -- the French press is quoting actually two different diplomats from the United States State Department that -- they're highlighting that the United States is giving some sort of agreements or b enefits to Colom b ia -- and other non-mem b ers of the Security Council --

MR. FLEISCHER: I haven't seen the story. And you already have the answer, a b out what this will b e decided on. But think a b out the implications of what you're saying. You're saying that the lea ders of other nations are b uya b le. And that is not an accepta b le proposition. (Laughter.)”

From Fe b ruary 27th:

"QUESTION: Does the administration view immigration refo rm s or other things that are on the b ina tional agenda tied to their support in the U.N.?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has always viewed immigration refo rm s, such things as family unification, as an important priority for the United States .

QUESTION: Is it tied to their support in the U.N.?

MR. FLEISCHER: They are, in and of themselves, important and worth goals. And with or without Iraq , the President would b e pushing them, as you know. He b egan his te rm pushing them, and he intends to continue to push them and hope the Congress will agree. This, at all times, would b e good times for Congress to agree to family reunification.

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