US faces ticklich decision on Mexican oil spill suit

Ronald Reagan's incoming adminitration will probably have to decide whether the United States will file suit against Mexico's national oil company, Pemex, for last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Sources said the Justice department has recommended the US file suit against Pemex and Pemargo, a private Mexican drilling company, but the final call will likely be made by the State Department and the White House, because of the effect on US-Mexican relations. The lxtoc I drilling platform blew out in the Gulf of Mexico June 3, 1979, spilling over 100 million gallons of oil and damaging the Texas and Louisiana coasts before being brought under control three months later.