NSC REQUEST FOR MEMO ON TURKEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R001400070010-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2002
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: March 22, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

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OFFICE OF THIowDD/I
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
NSC Request for Memo on Turkey
Sam Hoskinson called me last week
asking for a brief rundown on how, the
new Turkish government may approach
the opium problem. The attached memo
was prepared by OCI, and I am sending
it to Sam.
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22 March 1971
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:'. Probable Attitude of Nihat 'Erim Toward Opium
Control
1. Any action that Premier-designate Nihat Erim sponsors
in the matter of tightening Turkey's restrictions on the production
and sale of opium will depend on three factors: (a) the degree to
which his government concerns itself with this problem; (b) the at-
titude of the Turkish military leadership; and (c) his personal
feelings..
2. Erim has been designated interim premier at a time of
political upheaval. His choice derives from a combination of at-
tributes that recommend him to the military leaders:, coolness,
stability, experience, and lack of any driving personal ambition.
His job is to regain control of the situation by suppressing political
radicals and to restore normalcy to Turkey. He will have the
backing of the military in this, and can be expected to draw upon
their resources to the full extent needed.
3. His main preoccupation will, therefore, be with matters
of public order. The opium licensing bill now awaiting parliamentary
consideration and the organizational changes in the collection and
enforcement agencies will have far lower priorities. Nevertheless,
these matters have already achieved a degree of momentum. If the
more violent dissidents can be brought under control, and if reasonable
calm can be returned to college campuses, there is nothing to pre-
vent the Demirel -inaugurated opium control program from moving
forward, or even accelerating during the next few, months.
4. The opium control legislation never became a major
political football, as was feared by many. In its present mood, and
conscious of being under the watchful eye of the military, Parliament
may now move ahead on the opium bill, along with other' legislation,
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plan of attack. Any decision of his to change the existing organiza-
tion or program would be likely to increase the effectiveness of the
campaign.
with far less debate in the pre-voting phase than was usually the
case under Demirel. Stricter enforcement of laws on the sale and
distribution of opium, already planned, will probably be carried out
in 1971. If he is able to do so, Erim may wish to review the present
should encounter no particular preconceptions or resistance, but the
generals, will probably be more receptive if they expect some tangible
return to Turkey for their cooperation.
6. Little is known of Erim's personal attitude toward the
international drug trade or Turkey's role in it, but several factors
are encouraging. As a widely recognized expert on international
law, he can be expected to favor Turkey's living up to its commit-
influence with the present top leaders remains strong, and he has
recently been made aware of the dimensions of the problem by
Director Ingersoll. , The way is thus open to convincing the military
decision-makers of the.immediacy of the danger. Those who do this
5. The military, who will set priorities in Turkey for the
i foreseeable future, are the final arbiters. This applies whether they
rule directly or through a parliamentary government. They are
essentially uninformed on the international opium problem, as it
affects Turkey, and have taken no stand. President Sunay's
ments under the 1961 UN convention on the international movement
of narcotics. In this regard, he would be more sensitive to criticism
25X6 from abroad than most other Turkish leaders.
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probably be far less deterred from acting than was Demirel by
His political base is secure; he does
no appear to have any further political ambitions; and he would
press charges of subservience to US interests.
25X6