Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

426. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon ¹

Washington, undated.

SUBJECT

• Opium Production in Turkey

Ambassador Handleyʼs visit with you on December 22² will undoubtedly assist him in his efforts to convince the Turkish Government to destroy the 1970 poppy crop prior to harvest in the spring. If this effort is not successful, as may be likely, our fallback position is to arrange for an increased legal purchase of the 1970 crop and thereby reduce by 75% the amount of opium finding its way into the illegal traffic. This pre-emptive purchase scheme would be coupled with an effort to get the Turkish Government to make poppy planting illegal following the 1970 crop.

Under Secretary Johnson has recommended that you call in the Turkish Ambassador directly to express your concern over the harmful effects of the Turkish opium production. He suggests that this would be dramatic and forceful support to our other efforts.³

While such an action would add a dramatic touch, it seems to me that it might engage your prestige too much, particularly since there is little likelihood of the Turks agreeing to destroy the present crop. It might be better for you to consider calling in the Turkish Ambassador after we have received the Prime Ministerʼs response to Ambassador Handleyʼs next approach. At that time the impact of receiving the Turkish Ambassador would increase the chances of the Turks accepting our fallback position.

Recommendations

1) That you approve the game plan described in the first paragraph.

Approve

Disapprove

2) That you call in the Turkish Ambassador after⁴ we have received the Prime Ministerʼs response.⁵

Approve

Disapprove

Prefer to see the Turkish Ambassador now

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1244, Saunders Subject Files, Turkey 1969. Confidential. Sent for action. Sonnenfeldt sent this memorandum to Kissinger on December 22 under cover of a memorandum recommending that he sign it and send it to the President. Kissinger wrote on Sonnenfeldtʼs covering memorandum: “1. Calling on Amb is tactical issue. 2. Getting Pres to support heroin game plan is [illegible—policy?]. Do to-day–Dec. 26.” Haig wrote the following on the top of the page: “Retype memo to Johnson but move memo to Pres.” There was a note indicating that it was “done.”
2. See Document 427.
3. See Document 425.
4. The President circled “after” and checked the approval option.
5. On January 7, 1970, Kissinger sent a memorandum to Johnson stating that the President agreed with Johnsonʼs suggestion that Handley “make a renewed effort to obtain the Prime Ministerʼs agreement to destroy the present crop” and offer $5 million assistance to help the Turkish Government plow under the crop. If that was not successful, Kissinger agreed that “we seek to increase legal purchases of the 1970 crop coupled with an agreement by the Turkish Government to stop poppy production after the 1970 crop.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1244, Saunders Subject Files, Turkey 1969)