Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973–1976

269. Telegram 222598 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Colombia¹

Washington, September 18, 1975, 1716Z.

222598. Subject: President Lopez’ Communiqué on U.S. Responsibility For Drug Traffic in Colombia. Reference: A. Bogota 8825; B. Bogota 8826; C. State 219462.

1. We have considered President Lopez’ communiqué blaming the USG for drug traffic in Colombia and your comments. We agree with your recommendation that the communiqué not be taken as a deliberate provocation, and our response to the issue at the noon briefing (reftel C) attempted to deal with the issue in a moderate tone.

2. While President Lopez was, we believe, unduly one-sided in laying the blame on us, the issue he raised and his concern are, indeed, valid. The Mexicans, too, have pointed out the problem to us, privately however. We agree certainly that an important cause of the drug traffic in Colombia is the difficulty in combating it in the U.S. The issue is one being considered by the Domestic Council now, and its report will contain recommendations that should lead to an improvement in our performance in the U.S.

3. Hence, we do not look upon President Lopez’ comments as placing him in fundamental disagreement with us. Rather, it emphasizes the international nature of the problem and the need for cooperation between our two countries in dealing with it. We do not interpret his remarks as an indication of slackening of interest on his part in combating the drug traffic in Colombia. Certainly we are prepared to cooperate with him in the joint effort. In the U.S. we, for our part, expect in the near future to move directly against some of the major trafficking networks which are the cause of his concern.

4. You may draw on the above as appropriate in discussion with the Foreign Minister.

Kissinger

1. Summary: The Department concluded that President López’s statement that the United States was primarily responsible for Colombia’s drug trafficking did not reflect a slackening of interest on Colombia’s part regarding drug interdiction.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750324–0178. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by Bown; cleared by Dugstad, Johnson, Costaki, and Devine; approved by Luers. Repeated to Caracas and Mexico. In telegram 8825 from Bogotá, September 13, Vaky reported that López had been upset for some time over the U.S. media’s reporting on drug trafficking in Colombia, but a September 12 editorial in the New York Times provoked him to issue a communiqué blaming the drug problem on “powerful organizations who commercialize the product in the United States;” López’s communiqué was transmitted to the Department in telegram 8826 from Bogotá. (Ibid., D750318–0499) In telegram 8849 from Bogotá, September 15, Vaky reported that López assumed that the responsibility for drug-interdiction efforts rested with the United States. (Ibid., D750319–0588)