March 1, 1997

Pres Clinton certifies that Mexico is a fully ally of United States in war against illegal drugs, but only after Mexican Govt makes several commitments sought by American law enforcement agencies; senior White House official describes it as 'performance-based certification' that expects Mexico to demonstrate progress on number of clear objectives; person close to talks says that Govt of Pres Ernesto Zedillo had promised to begin extraditing major drug traffickers and to increase prosecutions under new crime laws; announcement draws immediate criticism in Congress; Sen Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, calls certification a mistake and says she will introduce legislation to overturn it; chart shows drugs seized and drug crops destroyed in recent years (M)

Cloning of adult mammal offers striking example of how technology can outpace moral and social thinking that would guide it, setting off debate among ethicists, psychologists and theologians over how this new science might change the world; since embryologist Dr Ian Wilmut announced last week that he had created a lamb from DNA of an ewe, talk has inevitably leaped to idea of cloning humans, possibility that raises host of moral, psychological and legal questions, not to mention highly likely opposition from some powerful religious authorities like Vatican (M)

Japanese people, with their nation facing severe budget deficit, start to object to spending for public works projects that have played outsized role in Japan's economy and political system; questioning is part of broader reassessment of public spending policy and of Japan's once-admired bureaucracy, both of which are now being seen as riddled with waste and corruption; Japan spends more on public construction, about $300 billion, than Pentagon spends on defense; in last few years, public works spending has been stepped up even more to stimulate economy; but now, Cabinet has formed task force to cut public construction expenses (M)

Ebonics as Mirror The dispute over whether black students speak a separate language reflects the tensions -- political, educational and social -- characteristic of urban education. Page 10. Resort Files for Bankruptcy The Concord Resort Hotel, reeling from the defeat of a bill that would have allowed gambling in the Catskills, has filed for bankruptcy protection from its creditors. Page 25.

The occasion was a lunch honoring Prince Sultan of Saudi Arabia, where a friendly tone went well with the watercress bisque and red snapper. But while Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright talked to the Prince, who is the Saudi Defense Minister, Louis J. Freeh, the F.B.I. director, was at a nearby table criticizing the Saudis' cooperation in the investigation of the bombing last June that killed 19 American airmen.