160. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (Johnson)1 2
SUBJECT:
- Opium Production in Turkey
The President agrees with your suggestion that on his return to Turkey Ambassador Handley make a renewed effort to obtain the Prime Minister’s agreement to destroy the present crop. An offer of a $5 million grant-financed commodity import program should be of assistance.
If that course of action is not successful, I concur in your further suggestion that we seek to increase legal purchases of the 1970 crop, coupled with agreement by the Turkish Government to stop poppy production after the 1970 crop. Since operational efforts involved in the pre-emptive purchase activity cut across several agencies, I have asked Mr. John Ehrlichman if he could free Mr. EGIL KROGH to supervise that aspect of efforts to eliminate Turkey as a source of illegal opium production.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, INCO-DRUGS 17 US-TUR. Confidential.↩
- Kissinger relayed the President’s approval of the Department of State’s plan to ask the Turkish Government to destroy its present opium crop in return for financial inducements. Kissinger notified the Department that Assistant to the President Haldeman’s assistant, EGIL KROGH, would now supervise U.S. Government efforts to eliminate Turkey’s illegal opium production.↩