12 September 2001

Dateline Madrid --

President Vicente Fox of Mexico startled his American hosts at the beginning of a state visit today when he called for an agreement with the United States on a migration policy by the end of the year.

"The time has come to give migrants and their communities their proper place in the history of our bilateral relations," Mr. Fox said on the White House south lawn, with President Bush standing nearby.

Well, hey now, Foxy," the President replied, looking somewhat shaken, "that's an awful tall order..."

Hundreds of thousands of Mexican immigrants live in the United States, many of them illegally. They are resented by some Americans, but they fill jobs vital to some American industries, jobs that many Americans would not take.

"The thing that makes our nation unique is that Americans work you people hard to provide for their families.", Bush remarked. "They're not afraid of working you hard. They welcome your hard work. The productivity of America is high because of the working people -- of Mexico"

Mr. Fox called for an agreement that would "recognize, above all, the value of migrants as human beings and as workers whose hard work is a daily contribution to the prosperity of this great nation."

"And I intend to do something about it.", Bush answered, "I intend -- and it started with doing something strong for our economy. And that's taking your money and sending it back to where it belongs, the taxpayers of America."

Immigration notwithstanding, today's ceremonies were full of warm remarks by the two presidents. Mr. Bush used to be the governor of Texas, a state that was once part of Mexico, and he speaks some English.

Mr. Fox called for strengthening the bonds between the two countries.

"Together, let us defend the values of democracy and the respect for human rights in our region and throughout the world," he said. "Let us see free trade as the engine of economic growth and the source of a better standard of living for our two peoples. Let us understand development with justice to be an inclusive form of prosperity. Let us make law and respect for the law the indispensable framework on which the freedom and security of our citizens depend."

"We're a compassionate nation based upon fantastic values;" Mr. Bush gushed, "a nation that's strong because our people are strong; a nation that's decent because our people are decent. A nation that's compassionate because we've got folks who will walk right across the street and say to a neighbor in need, what can I do to help, and what's in it for me if I do? It doesn't matter whether you have a union card or not a union card; you love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, because there's a higher calling amongst many in America, which we call the Profit Motive. We've got to remember the value, not only of your hard work, but tried and true values of exploiting your mother and dad, and bending the truth, bringing expediency to whatever you do, and loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, you little minx."

Before leaving the podium, Mr. Bush looked longingly into the Mexican President's eyes and exclaimed, "God almighty, Foxy. I just love you and your cute little country!"

Mr. Fox is rumored to be strangely flattered by Mr. Bush's odd remarks, and is reportedly looking for a cheap apartment in Washington.

http://www.nytimes.com