HIGH-LEVEL VISIT SIGNALS U.S. ALARM OVER COLOMBIA

BOGOTA, Colombia, Aug. 10--A high-level team of U.S. officials began a
two-day visit to Colombia today at a time of growing alarm in Washington
over a surge in the guerrilla war here coupled with calls in both Bogota
and Washington for large increases in U.S. military and anti-drug aid.

As the world's top cocaine producer and home to the longest-running civil
conflict in the hemisphere, Colombia has long been viewed with concern by
Washington, but rarely has it been seen as an immediate threat to U.S.
security. However, cocaine and heroin output is rapidly increasing here,
Marxist rebels are strengthening their forces in case slow-moving peace
talks break down, and they appear to be reaping a fortune from the drug trade.

The visit by Undersecretary of State Thomas R. Pickering, along with the
department's Latin America specialist, Peter F. Romero, and Undersecretary
of Defense Brian Sheridan was seen here as an indication that Colombia is
becoming a greater priority in Washington.