194. Telegram 108468 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts1 2
Rome for FODAG
Paris for NESCO
For Chief of Diplomatic Mission
From the Secretary
The President today sent to the Congress a comprehensive message on the drug problem, the text of which is contained in the USIS Wireless File. I want to draw your personal attention to this message and to stress its importance.
In a meeting on June 14 with members of the Cabinet and several of our Ambassadors from areas where the drug control problem is acute, the President made clear that he considers no problem to have greater priority for this Administration than the struggle against drug abuse and particularly heroin.
The President knows that if we are to win this struggle we must have international cooperation. I ask each [Page 2] of you to give priority attention to how such cooperation can best be promoted and translated into specific measures for joint efforts with individual countries.
I ask also that each of you give the text of the President’s message to the Government or International Organization to which you are accredited. On this occasion you should make clear that the President considers the heroin addiction of American citizens an international problem of grave concern to this Nation and that we seek the close cooperation of all countries to eradicate drug abuse in our own country and everywhere in the world.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SOC 11-5. Unclassified. Repeated to Rome for FODAG and Paris for NESCO. Drafted by Betty C. Gough (IO/HDC), cleared by Herz, Wellman, and Eliot, and approved by Rogers.↩
- Secretary of State Rogers alerted all posts to President Nixon’s comprehensive Congressional message on the drug problem, and to results of the June 14 meeting with the President.↩