Drug Control, 1973–1976


173. Telegram 15450 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

[5 pages not declassified in time for publication.]

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis.


174. Telegram 14796 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

The telegram provided guidance to Chiefs of Mission concerning oversight of DEA activities abroad.

Source: National Archives, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Drafted in S/NM by Ernst and in DEA by Antonelli; cleared in L/SFP, M, S/S–O, P, SCA, ARA, EA/EP, EUR, and NEA; and approved by Vance. Sent to 77 posts worldwide, with information copies forwarded to USUN in New York and the U.S. Mission in Geneva. Printed from a copy repeated to multiple posts on March 26.


175. Report of the United States Delegation to the 26th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The report summarized the work of the conference, focusing on the licit opium shortage, illicit trafficking, Turkish opium cultivation, revision of annual reports, exchange of information, and demand reduction.

Source: Department of State, IO/T/HNP Files, Lot 81D327, NAR 76 ORG UN, Organizations—United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 1976 meeting. No classification marking. Prepared by Cavanaugh. Three appendices, not published, listed the members of the U.S. delegation, the organization and agenda of the meeting, and the number of participants representing other governments and non-governmental organizations.


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

The Working Group discussed Congressional concerns about CCINC program content, the situation in Turkey, marijuana policy, and the status of licit opium supplies.

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 19, Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control. Confidential. Drafted on June 13 by Lawrence (S/NM). The minutes were forwarded to committee representatives on June 16.


177. Telegram 119686 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

The telegram clarified the duties of the Embassy Narcotics Officer position.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified; Unrestricted. Drafted and approved by Ernst. Forwarded to 94 posts, and sent for information to USUN and Geneva. Printed from a repeated copy; the original was sent on May 22. Airgram A–2665, Department of State to selected posts, April 17, forwarded a Narcotic Training Assessment Questionnaire and instructed the Embassy Narcotics Officer to make host country authorities aware of opportunities for drug control training and cooperative initiatives.


178. Memorandum From the Chief Counsel of the Drug Enforcement Administration (Miller) to the Acting Administrator (Dogin)

Miller summarized key issues pertaining to the licit opium supply situation and the work of the Opium Policy Task Force.

Source: National Archives, RG 170, Acc. # 89–0021, Box 1. No classification marking. Attachment 1, signed by Dogin on July 9, announced the existence of an emergency that warranted authorization of the import of poppy straw. The other attachments were not found. Joseph McLaughlin (misspelled in the text) was a member of the S/NM staff.


179. Memorandum of Conversation

Ford and Kissinger discussed drug control efforts with Turkish Prime Minister Demirel.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 14, July 31, 1975. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place at the Ambassador’s residence.


180. Memorandum of Conversation

Ford and Kissinger discussed how to support Colombian drug control efforts with President Lopez Michelsen.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 15, September 25, 1975. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office.


181. Memorandum From the Senior Adviser on International Narcotics Matters (Vance) to Acting Secretary of State Ingersoll

Vance asked Ingersoll to approve a telegram to all posts emphasizing the importance of international drug control cooperation as highlighted in the White Paper on Drug Abuse submitted to the President by the Domestic Council Drug Abuse Task Force.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files: Lot 84 D 147. Unclassified. Drafted by Ernst. Tabs 1 and 3 were not found. Tab 2 is a draft version of Document 182.


182. Telegram 253482 From the Department of State to All Posts

In light of the recently-published White Paper on Drug Abuse, the Department urged all missions to promote U.S. drug control objectives abroad.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified. Drafted by Buczaski and Ernst; and approved by Ingersoll, Vance, and Borg. The report was published under the title, Government Printing Office, 1975.


183. Memorandum From the Commissioner of Customs (Acree) and the Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (Dogin) to Principal Field Offices

[8 pages not declassified in time for publication.]

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 22, MOUDEA, Customs Service, and IRS, December 1975–August 1976. No classification marking.


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

The Working Group focused primarily on developments involving Mexico.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files: Lot 84 D 147, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. The meeting took place in room 6320 at the Department of State. Confidential. Drafted by Lawrence. Tabs A and B are attached but not published.


185. Memorandum for the File

A Congressional delegation met with President Ford to discuss international aspects of the drug problem.

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 23, Opium, January 1975–August 1976, President—Meetings. No classification marking. The meeting commenced at 3 p.m. The Murphy Commission refers to the U.S. Commission on the Organization of the Government for the Conduct of Foreign Policy, Report of the Commission, Washington, GPO, 1975. For Ford’s discussion with Echeverría, see Document 15. For Ford’s discussion with Lopez see Document 180. For Ford’s discussion with Demeril see Document 179.


186. Telegram 11441 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State

Attorney General Levi met privately with his counterpart Ojeda Paullada to stress the importance President Ford placed on Mexican drug control efforts.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated for information to DEA headquarters.


187. Minutes of the Domestic Council Drug Abuse Review Task Force

[4 pages not declassified in time for publication.]

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147. No classification marking.


188. Letter From Mexican President Echeverría to President Ford

Echeverría informed Ford about meetings held with U.S. representatives and announced the establishment of a national commission to study drug-related concerns.

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 22, Mexico, November 1975–May 1976. Limited Official Use. Sent as telegram 629 from Mexico City to the Department of State. Translated from the original Spanish by the Division of Language Services, Department of State.


189. Minutes of the Domestic Council Drug Abuse Review Task Force

The Task Force focused primarily on drug trafficking along the Mexican border.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147. Secret. Minutes were forwarded to participants on February 17.


190. Letter From President Ford to Mexican President Echeverría

Ford acknowledged Echeverría’s letter, informed him of similar measures within the United States, and proposed continuing consultations to coordinate efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse.

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 22, Mexico, November 1975–May 1976. No classification marking. Echeverría’s letter to Ford is published as Document 188.


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

The Working Group discussed aspects of the Mexican situation, cocaine trafficking and coca production reduction, APO concerns, and items relating to congressional action.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. Limited Official Use. The meeting took place in room 1207 in the Department of State. Drafted by Ernst. Attached but not published at Tab A is a list of participants. Tab B has not been found. Echeverría’s letter to Ford is published as Document 188.


192. Letter From the Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for International Narcotics Matters (Vance) to the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Committee on Appropriations (Inouye)

Vance reviewed efforts to encourage contributions to the UN Fund for Drug Abuse Control from other governments and articulated the rationale for continued U.S. contributions.

Source: Department of State Files, IO/T/HNP Files, Lot 81 D 327, NAR 76 ORGUN Organizations–United Nations. No classification marking. A handwritten notation on the bottom of the document indicated the letter was copied to Cummins in IO/EX.


193. Report of the United States Delegation to the 4th Special Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The report summarized the work of the conference, focusing on demand reduction, control of psychotropic substances, income substitution programs, UN secretariat organization, and alternatives for producing opium-based raw materials.

Source: Department of State Files, IO/T/HNP Files, Lot 81D327, CND, 4th Special Session. No classification marking. Prepared by Buczacki. The Special Session met from February 16 to 27, 1976. Three appendices, not published, listed the members of the U.S. delegation, the organization and agenda of the meeting, and the number of participants representing other governments and non-governmental organizations.


194. Memorandum From the Special Assistant for Federal Drug Management, Office of Management and Budget (Johnson) to the Associate Director for National Security and International Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (Ogilvie) and the Associate Director for Economics and Government, Office of Management and Budget (Kearney)

Johnson presented an overview of international drug control developments and related domestic matters.

Source: Ford Library, Parsons Files, Box 21, International Narcotics Control, March–June 1976. Secret.


195. Memorandum From the Chief Counsel of the Drug Enforcement Administration (Miller) to the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (Bensinger)

Miller advocated monitoring exports of U.S. pharmaceutical drugs for diversions into the illicit traffic.

Source: National Archives, RG 170, Acc. # 89–0024, Box 1, Outgoing Correspondence, 1970s. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Frank G. Pappas, Acting Chief, Office of Liaison (DEA), and John Gunn, Acting Director of the Office of Science and Technology (DEA).


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

The Working Group discussed intelligence, congressional initiatives, the role of international organizations, the regulatory status of psychotropic drugs and papaver bracteatum, public relations, assistance for demand reduction activities abroad, drug abuse among members of the armed services, APO mail concerns, and domestic drug abuse trends.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. Confidential. For the Ramsey case see records of the Federal Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 176 U.S. App. D.C. at 73, 538 F. 2d, at 421. Paul Perito was Deputy Director of SAODAP until 1975.


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

The working group discussed a report to be forwarded to President Ford, enabling legislation for ratification of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and testimony before congressional committees.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/NM Files, Lot 77 D 120, Narcotics Control, 2 of 3. Limited Official Use. The meeting took place in room 7516 in the Department of State. Drafted by Ernst. Attachment A, an August 18 memorandum circulating the agenda to Working Group members is not published.


198. Telegram 230901 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

The telegram forwarded guidelines for CCINC funding of drug-related demand reduction programs initiated by foreign governments.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/NM Files, Lot 77D120, Narcotics Control, 1 of 3. Unclassified. Drafted by Du Pont; cleared in DEA, Treasury, AID/SER/INC, OMB, NSC, CIA, and USIA; and approved by Vance.


199. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Robinson) to President Ford

Robinson forwarded to Ford a report on the activities of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control.

Source: National Archives, Central Foreign Policy Files, P760151–1263. No classification marking. Drafted on September 20. The attached table has not been found.


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

The Working Group discussed intelligence matters, budgetary allocations, and developments in overseas assistance and training programs.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. No classification marking. Not published are Attachment 1, an October 1 memorandum circulating the agenda to Working Group members; Attachment 2, undated charts outlining fiscal year 1977 overseas spending and personnel levels; and Attachment 4, fiscal year 1977 international narcotic enforcement training objectives. Attachment 3 has not been found.


201. Telegram 266442 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

The telegram instructed posts to apply all appropriate resources and coordination efforts to drug-related intelligence reporting.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Ernst; cleared in NEA/RA, EUR/WE, ARA/RPP, EA, S/NM, CIA, DEA, and S/S; and approved by Robinson. Published from a corrected copy. State 119686 is published as Document 177.


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

The Working Group discussed drug control-related conditions in various countries, potential domestic production of paper bracteates, activities of the Foreign Intelligence Subcommittee, Congressional initiatives, and exchanged views with representatives of the International Narcotics Control Board.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, INM/P Files, Lot 84 D 147, Cabinet Committee–Working Group. Limited Official Use. Attached but not published is Attachment 1, a December 7 memorandum circulating the agenda to Working Group members. Vernon Hann’s name is misspelled as Hamm.