Drug Control, 1973–1976


143. Memorandum From the Director of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (Jaffe) to the Associate Director of the Domestic Council (Shepard)

The memorandum clarified and suggested a reconsideration of U.S. policy concerning elimination of poppy cultivation.

Source: National Archives, RG 170, Acc. # 89–0025, Box 1, Opium Policy: 12/73 policy paper background. No classification marking.


144. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President (Ash) to Secretary of State Rogers

As part of a review of federal drug control organization, Ash proposed that the Department of State assume more responsibility for overseeing international drug control efforts.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5. Administratively Confidential. Copies were sent to Ehrlichman and Cole. Rogers replied to Ash on February 13 that he would consider the proposals.


145. Telegram 644 From the United States Mission to the United Nations at Geneva to the Department of State

The telegram summarized negotiations at the 25th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5. Limited Official Use. Repeated for information to Buenos Aires, London, and the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York. “Division” refers to the Division on Narcotic Drugs, the section of the UN secretariat that provided support for UN drug control functions.


146. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President (Ash) to President Nixon

Ash recommended the creation of a new agency within the Department of Justice to consolidate drug control efforts.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, President’s Office Files, President’s Handwriting Files, Box 21, March 1–10, 1973. No classification marking. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. Nixon initialed his approval of option 3.


147. Memorandum From the Chief Counsel of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (Miller) to Members of the Opium Shortage Committee

Miller updated the committee members on discussions with pharmaceutical manufacturers’representatives about an anticipated licit opium shortage and potential government responses.

Source: National Archives, RG 170, Acc. # 89–0022, Box 1. No classification marking. The Committee on Opium Shortage included representatives from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Food and Drug Administration, the Special Action Office on Drug Abuse Prevention, the General Services Administration, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. A memorandum from Ingersoll to Krogh, January 17; National Archives, RG 170, Acc. # 89–0022, Box 1, Opium Shortage Study, indicated that the stockpile consisted of 847,974 pounds of opium and 42,000 pounds of morphine.


148. Memorandum From Executive Director of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Matters (Handley) to the Director of the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (Ambrose)

Handley forwarded to Ambrose recommendations from Cabinet Committee on Narcotics Control subcommittees concerning Drug Enforcement Administration organization and procedures.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM Files, Lot 85D396, DEA July 1973–December 1974. No classification marking. Tab A, not published, a memorandum from Peters to Bartels, May 31, proposed organizational options for strengthening the drug intelligence function. Tab B, not published, a memorandum from Belk to Peters, May 4, forwarded the minutes and conclusions of a Law Enforcement Subcommittee meeting that presented options for management and organization of international law enforcement activities. Tab C, attached but not published, is a May 17 memorandum from Stutman to Bartels, concerning a report on proposed international training procedures. Also attached but not published is Tab D, undated, which contains briefing materials concerning priorities for research and development projects presented by Dr. Al Vosburg, Acting Chairman of the CCINC Research and Development Subcommittee to Roger Jones, Chairman of the DEA Research and Development Subcommittee.


149. Minutes of the Working Group of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control

The Working Group discussed interagency decision making procedures, Congressional positions on drug-related issues, program initiatives for priority countries, general drug abuse control program priorities, a potential licit opium shortage, and enforcement issues.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147, CCINC–Working Group (previous). Administratively Confidential. The meeting took place in the Deputy Secretary’s Conference Room. The undated Tab B, confidential, with the exception of those pages listing the CCINC membership rosters, is published here. Attached but not published at Tab A is a September 17 agenda for Working Group members. Tabs D and E are not attached. The Wolff Amendment, introduced on May 30, made it the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) immediately initiate negotiations at the highest level of the Turkish Government to (a) prevent the resumption of opium production; or (b) assure that adequate control measures have been developed and implemented which would effectively safeguard the United States from a renewed flow of illicit opium and its derivatives originating in Turkey; and (2) if such negotiations proved unfruitful, exercise the authority provided by the Congress under the Foreign Assistance Act to suspend all assistance to the government of Turkey. The Hartke Amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act were introduced on May 1.


150. Memorandum From the Executive Director of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Matters (Handley) to the Cabinet Committees on Drug Abuse

Handley proposed specific bilateral measures and regional initiatives to address international drug-control problems.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5, 7–1–73. Secret; Exdis; Not for reproduction. Circulated by Laird on November 21, 1973 to members of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control and the Domestic Council Committee on Drug Abuse.


151. Minutes of a Joint Meeting of the Cabinet Committees on Drug Abuse

Committee members discussed the international drug control situation and initiatives to enhance U.S. efforts abroad.

Source: Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 359, Subject Files, Narcotics, Volume V, January 1972–December 1973 (2of 3). Confidential. Forwarded on December 3 to all participants. The international initiatives proposed by Ambassador Handley are published as Document 150.


152. Briefing Memorandum From the Office of the Inspector General of the Foreign Service (Sutterlin) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Sutterlin recommended managerial and organizational enhancements to improve Department of State leadership of the International Narcotics Control Program.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5. Sensitive. Drafted by Deputy Inspector General Perkins C. Pedrick. For the Ash’s February 1 memorandum see Document 144.


153. Memorandum From the Counselor to the President (Laird), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Ash), Secretary of Health Education and Welfare Weinberger, and Secretary of the Treasury Shultz to President Nixon

The memorandum outlined options and made recommendations for action to alleviate a growing shortage of licit opium.

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 23, Opium, January 1975–August 1976. Secret. Sent for action. Attached but not published at Tab B, undated and unsigned, is a detailed account of the NSC staff position. Attached but not published at Tab C, undated and unsigned, is a detailed account of the Department of State views. On December 26 Kehrli wrote to Laird, Ash, Weinberger, and Shultz, indicating that all three recommendations were approved. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P850150–2524)


154. Telegram 1310 From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State

Ambassador Macomber reported the details of his meeting with Prime Minister Ecevit concerning potential Turkish reintroduction of opium poppy cultivation.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC files, Box 634, Country Files, Middle East, Turkey Volume IV, January 74 [July 74]. Secret; Priority. Repeated for information to Geneva and U.S. Consulates in Adana, Istanbul, and Izmir. Forwarded on February 23 to Kissinger as telegram 36526 from the Department of State to the Embassy in Mexico.


155. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Regional Staff Meeting

Secretary Kissinger discussed how to respond to the likely reintroduction of poppy growing in Turkey.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 2, Secretary’s Regional Staff Meetings, 03/12/74. Secret.


156. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting

Secretary Kissinger considered further responses to the increasingly likely reintroduction of poppy growing in Turkey.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 2, Secretary’s Regional Staff Meetings, 03/18/74. Secret.


157. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Ash) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Ash asked Kissinger to review the managerial and financial resources devoted to international drug control efforts.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 359, Subject Files, Narcotics Vol. VI, January 1974 (1 of 1). No classification marking. Tab A has not been found.


158. Airgram A–4096 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

The Airgram forwarded the report of the U.S. delegation to the Third Special Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740051–1948. Unclassified. Sent to Accra, Algiers, Ankara, Athens, Baghdad, Bangkok, Beirut, Belgrade, Bern, Bonn, Brasilia, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Canberra, Colombo, Copenhagen, Geneva, Helsinki, Islamabad, Jakarta, Kabul, Kathmandu, Kingston, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lagos, La Paz, Lima, Lome, London, Madrid, Manila, Mexico, Montevideo, Moscow, Nairobi, Ndjamena, New Delhi, Oslo, Ottawa, Panama, Paris, Phnom Penh, Prague, Pretoria, Rabat, Rangoon, Rome, Saigon, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Seoul, Singapore, Sofia, Stockholm, The Hague, Tunis, Vienna, Peking, Vientiane, Tehran, Tokyo, Warsaw, Wellington, USUN, Tripoli, Asuncion, Bogota, Bridgetown, Caracas, Curacao, Nassau, Quito, Hong Kong, Amman, and Tel Aviv. Drafted by Cavanaugh; cleared in S/NM; and approved by Vance. The appendices were not found.


159. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Ash)

Kissinger informed Ash of personnel, budgetary, and organizational efforts to enhance international drug control efforts.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 359, Subject Files, Narcotics Vol. VI, January 1974 (1 of 1). No classification marking.


160. Memorandum of Conversation

U.S. representatives discussed the international drug control situation with INCB member Pollner.

Source: National Archives, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740071–1619. Limited Official Use. Drafted in IO/HDC by Noziglia and in USUN by Wiggins. “1953 Convention” refers to the Protocol for Limiting and Regulating the Cultivation of the Poppy Plant, the Production of, International and Wholesale Trade in, and Use of Opium, signed at New York on June 23, 1953. “1961 Convention” and “Single Convention” refer to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, signed at New York on March 30, 1961.


161. Memorandum From the Special Assistant for Federal Drug Management (Johnson) to the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (Bartels), the Senior Adviser on International Narcotics Matters (Vance), the Director of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (DuPont), and the Associate Director of the Domestic Council (Shepard)

The memorandum summarized the discussion of an August 19 meeting on the status and future of federal drug control efforts.

Source: Ford Library, F. Lynn May Files, Box 3, Drug Abuse, General (1). Administratively Confidential; Eyes Only. The attachment was not found. “Compass Trip” refers to a multi-spectral aerial surveillance system to detect opium poppy plantings.


162. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford

Kissinger assessed options for responding to the reintroduction of Turkish poppy production.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 54, NSDM 267, Turkish Opium Production (1). Secret. Sent for action. Ford initialed his approval. Tab A is Document 164.


163. Memorandum of Conversation

U.S. representatives discussed with INCB member Pollner how to respond to the Turkish government’s announced intention to reintroduce licit opium cultivation.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740097–2072. Confidential. Drafted by Cavanaugh and Wiggins. Copies were sent to Vance, Gough, the narcotics coordinator for EUR, and Hirshorn.


164. National Security Decision Memorandum 267

President Ford issued instructions for responding to the reintroduction of opium cultivation in Turkey.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Decision Memoranda and Study Memoranda, Box 1, NSDM 267. Secret. Copies were sent to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of Domestic Council, and the Director of the United States Information Agency. The Interdepartmental Group memorandum of July 13 is summarized in Document 162.


165. Telegram 192427 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey

Secretary Kissinger instructed Ambassador Macomber to deliver a message personally to Prime Minister Ecevit concerning U.S. concerns about opium smuggling accompanying the reintroduction of poppy cultivation.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Repeated for information to the U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva. Drafted by Hirshorn; and approved by Kissinger, Vance, Stabler, and Woods.


166. Letter From the Senior Member of the Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee, House of Representatives (Bennett) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Bennett queried Kissinger about alternatives to depleting the stockpile of opium reserved for national defense purposes.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740116–1715. No classification marking.


167. Telegram 233134 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts

President Ford directed ambassadors to review and report on mission drug control activities.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Drafted by Ernst; cleared by Eagleburger, Sisco, Vance, Shepard, Horan, and Johnson. Repeated to all consular posts.


168. Minutes of the Working Group of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control

[5 pages not declassified in time for publication.]

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files: Lot 84D147, Box 1, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. Confidential.


169. Telegram 15727 From the Embassy in Italy to Several Posts

The telegram informed posts about the federal organization and coordination mechanisms in Washington designed to support the drug abuse-control activities of other governments.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified. Repeated to the consuls of Florence, Milan, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Trieste, and Turin. Repeated for information to the Department of State.


170. Telegram 254205 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

The telegram outlined criteria for support of host country drug abuse prevention efforts.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Sent to Bangkok, Bogota, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Geneva, Hong Kong, Lima, Mexico City, Quito, Rangoon, and Santiago. Repeated for information to New Delhi, Amman, Ankara, Asuncion, Athens, Beirut, Bonn, Bridgetown, Brussels, Cairo, Colombo, Copenhagen, Dacca, Damascus, Guatemala City, Islamabad, Jakarta, Kabul, Kathmandu, Kingston, Kuala Lumpur, La Paz, Lisbon, Madrid, Managua, Manila, Montevideo, Nassau, Panama City, Paris, Phnom Penh, Port au Prince, Port of Spain, Rabat, Rome, Saigon, San Jose, San Salvador, Santo Domingo, Singapore, Tegucigalpa, Tehran, The Hague, and Tunis. Drafted and approved by Ernst; approved in draft by Cavanaugh, Searing, Zerolis, and Rouse; approved in substance by Shankle; and approved by phone by Smith.


171. Letter From the Assistant to the Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (Holton) to the Senior Member of the Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee, House of Representatives (Bennett)

Holton explained the rationale behind the release of opium from the strategic stockpile and informed Bennett that the DEA would allow import of poppy straw concentrate.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files P740147–1396. No classification marking. Drafted by Miller on December 23; and cleared in OMB. The attachment is printed in Federal Register, Vol. 39, No. 246, December 20, 1974, pp. 44033–44034. H.R. 9429 and S. 2166, both entitled “A bill to authorize the disposal of opium from the national stockpile,” were introduced on July 19.


172. Minutes of the Working Group of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control

The Working Group discussed the situation in Turkey, Mexico, and Jamaica, income substitution programs, the licit opium supply, the upcoming UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting, trade matters, and treaty ratification.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84D147, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. Confidential. Drafted by Lawrence on February 14. David R. MacDonald was Treasury Department Assistant Secretary for Enforcement, Operations, and Tariff Affairs.