A Mexican diplomat said the four military men did not notice that they had crossed the border.

"We have been very clear that this was going to generate serious conflict," a Mexican diplomat said tonight.

Letcher brought these modifications to the Mexican diplomats, but they steadfastly refused to accept them.

Mexico is seeking to void all 52 convictions and death sentences, contending that its citizens were denied the right to meet promptly with Mexican diplomats.

The decision, Mexican diplomats said, may affect the cases of almost 100 other Mexicans facing death sentences before American courts.

"We find discarded passports every day in bus stations and the airport," a Mexican diplomat said.

And Mexican diplomats began lobbying for acceptance of the matrícula card.

Mexican diplomats requested the raid after they had met several times with the young men and concluded that they were not political refugees but economic ones.

Alfonso Reyes - Mexican diplomat who served for a time in Argentina.

"When North Americans look toward Mexico," a Mexican diplomat said, "that is what they see first."