Office of the Historian

324. Telegram 239313 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Peru1

Washington, September 25, 1976, 1641Z.

239313. Subject: Coca Control Initiative. Ref: Lima 7879; Lima 8045; Lima 8410; Lima 8584.

1. We are encouraged by GOP’s apparent serious interest in trying to bring coca cultivation under control to prevent its diversion to cocaine production. There now appears to be a basis for moving ahead with the GOP to try to develop a comprehensive program that we could support. Since there are indications that the GOP might consider enforcing coca controls at an early stage we would be willing to consider ways in which we might provide assistance for such enforcement even before a comprehensive program could be developed or implemented.

2. The Peruvian proposal (Lima 07879 para 14) sets forth basic principles for developing a comprehensive program most of which we find acceptable. It should set [the] context for developing a plan of action.

3. You may discuss the foregoing with GOP and develop a mutually convenient date for the visit by our experts to begin preparatory talks. Even before that visit we believe the Embassy and GOP could begin to collect and review existing studies on the coca issue. The team would include an expert on training to discuss the points in that part of the Peruvian proposal.

4. Concerning the association of Attorneys General, we believe the Peruvian proposal has merit. We would be prepared to cover the expenses (transportation and lodging) for the first meeting. We would prefer not to make a commitment now to support the association as a permanent institution with its own Secretariat. That question, we suggest, would be appropriate for discussion by the Attorneys General at the first meeting. We also suggest that participation in the first meeting be limited to the principal producing, trafficking and consuming countries: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Inviting other countries to join could be subject on the agenda. Mid- [Page 877] October, we believe, is too near to make the necessary arrangements and we would prefer now to leave the date to be worked out on the basis earliest convenience to the participants. We agree Lima would be the appropriate site.

5. We believe, as GOP apparently intends, cocaine problem should be highlighted as principal focus of meeting to dispel notions of other governments that they are being excluded from a meeting of direct importance to them.

6. Re para 4 above, this cable has not yet received Justice Department clearance. Therefore, no commitment can be made on level of U.S. attendance at proposed meeting.

Kissinger

  1. Summary: The Department informed the Embassy that it was encouraged by Peru’s apparent interest in controlling coca cultivation, and that the Department thought there was a basis for providing assistance and developing a comprehensive coca reduction program.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760363–0965. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Brown; cleared by Weber, King, Bach, Fuller, Sullivan, Ortiz, Fields, Wampler and Pope; approved by Vance. In telegram 7879 from Lima, September 1, the Embassy reported on Peru’s proposal for funding, providing personnel, and implementation of a joint U.S.-Peruvian coca reduction program. (Ibid., D760332–0269)

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