Embassy Row

By James Morrison THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Questioning Weld

. . . . Why does President Clinton want to send an ambassador to Mexico who
supports the medical use of marijuana, a position opposed by his own White
House drug czar?

. . . . That is the question 12 Republican congressmen are raising in a
letter to Mr. Clinton, urging him not to nominate William Weld, the
Republican governor of Massachusetts.

. . . . It remains to be seen how effective the House members will be in
influencing the debate because the Senate is the only chamber that has the
authority to confirm or reject ambassadorial nominations.

. . . . Pointing out that 80 percent of the marijuana smuggled into the
United States comes through Mexico, the congressmen said:

. . . . "Given Mexico's difficulty in controlling narcotics trafficking
across its borders, we strongly believe that sending an ambassador who ...
endorses the use of an illegal drug ... undermines American efforts to curb
the flow of drugs into our country and undercuts the chief executive branch
official in charge of prosecuting the drug war, Gen. Barry McCaffrey."

. . . . Mr. Weld could not be reached for comment yesterday. A White House
spokesman said Mr. Clinton has not nominated Mr. Weld. The president,
however, has made it clear he wants the governor to take the position, and
Mr. Weld has said he wants the job.

. . . . "He has not been nominated," White House spokesman Barry Toiv said
yesterday. "If and when that occurs, the Senate will have ample opportunity
to ask him any questions they may have."

. . . . Mr. Weld last year signed a state law authorizing the use of
marijuana for certain medical conditions, a position strongly opposed by
Gen. McCaffrey, the director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy.

. . . . The letter, released last week, was organized by Rep. Mark Souder
of Indiana, vice chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight
subcommittee on national security, international affairs and criminal
justice. The panel has oversight over Gen. McCaffrey's office.

. . . . Others signing the letter were Republican Reps. Tom Coburn, Lindsey
Graham, Van Hilleary, John Hostetller, Bill McCollum, David McIntosh, John
Mica, Vince Snowbarger, Bob Stump, Todd Tiahrt and Dave Weldon.