ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ITEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 27, 2011
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: February 23, 1974
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
w
******* *******S COPY
OP IMMED
DE WTE 00841 0541204
O 231145Z FEB 74
FM THE SITUATION ROOM //TOHAK28//
TO PETER RODMAN FOR SEC. KISSINGER
T 0 P S E C R E T SENSITIVE CONTAINS CODEWORD WH40471
TnHAK28
VIA BLACK PATCH
State Dept. & NSA reviews
completed
FEBRUARY 23, 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY
FROM: THE SITUATION RnOM
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ITEMS
TURKISH OPIUM: AMBASSADOR MACOMBER HAS HAD A LONG DISCUSSI,,N
WITH TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, BULENT ECEVIT, ON THE SUBJECT
OF OPIUM. ECFVIT, ALONG WITH ALL TURKISH POLITICAL PARTIES AND
MUCH OF THE PUBLIC, HAS BEEN UNHAPPY OVER TURKEYS BAN ON OPIUM
PRODUCTION. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE BAN WAS IMPOSED BY THE
TURKISH GOVERNMENT IN 1971 AS A RESULT OF CONSIDERABLE U.S.
PRESSURE, AND THAT IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A $35.7 MILLION U.S.
GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE 70,000 OR MORE AFFECTED
FARMERS
ECEVIT TOLD MACOMBER THAT THE BAN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED;
THAT THE LOSS OF INCOME HAP BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE IMPnVER
ISHED FARMERS DESPITE U.S. ASSISTANCE; THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS NOW CONCLUDED THERE IS A WORLDWIDE MEDICINAL
OPIUM SHORTAGE WHICH WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE MET BY INCREASED PRO-
DUCTION IN COUNTRIES OTHER THAN TURKEY (MAINLY INDIA); THAT THE
TURKISH PUBLIC WOULD NEVER ACCEPT THIS, NO !.,ATTER WHAT OUR REA-
SONS MIGHT BE; AND THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL FINISH WORKING OUT
ITS POLICY POSITIONS ON THIS ISSUE DURING THE NEXT TWO OR THREE
WEEKS*
MACOMBER REPLIED THAT WE STRONGLY HOPE THAT TURKEY WILL NOT EASE
THE BAN; THAT GIVEN TURKEY'S NEARNESS TO ILLICIT EUROPEAN HEROIN
TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS AND THE HIGH COST OF ESTABLISHING EVEN
PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, WE DO NOT SHARE THE
PRIME MINISTER'S CONFIDENCE THAT LEAKAGE INTO ILLICIT CHANNELS
CAN BE AS EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED IN TURKEY AS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
PSN:016B61 PAGE 01
TOR:054/11:46Z DTG:231.1452
******* T 0 P r C f "' &--+- *******S COPY
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
FEB 74
MORI PER
C03345755
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
 U W - - , w r
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
******* 7 0 P S E C R E T *******S COPY
INDIA: THAT A RESUMPTION OP PRODUCTION WOULD BENEFIT TURKISH
FARMERS ONLY MARGINALLY; THAT THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES WOULD RE
CROOKED TRAFFICKERS AND THE= MAIN VICTIMS WOULD BE THE WORLn'S
YOUTH, AND THAT THE U0S. GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO CONSIDER
FURTHER ASSISTANCE UNDER NORMAL AID CRITERIA.
M,ACOMBER,REPORTS THAT DESPITE ECEVIT'S RELATIVELY TOUGH LINE= ON
THIS ISSUE, ECEVIT APPARENTLY ENVISAGES U.S,-TURKISH TALKS nN
THE MATTER RATHER THAN ANY SUDDEN UNILATERAL TURKISH DECISION.
MACOMBER BELIEVES ECEVIT PERSONALLY WOULD PREFER TO AVOID RP-
SUMPTION OF OPIUM CULTIVATION BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE THE U.S. IS
GOING TO OFFER SUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO GIVE HIM A
DOMESTIC POLITICAL "OUT." MACOMBER ALSO BELIEVES ECEVIT FEELS
THAT U.S. GOVERNMENT REACTION To A LIMITED TURKISH RESUMPTION
UNDER IMPROVED CONTROLS WOULD BF MANAGEABLE AND WOULD NOT SFR-
IOUSLY HURT OUR OVERALL BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP.
WE SENT YOU 4 LONGER INFORMATION MEMO LAST WEEK DISCUSSING THIS
PROBLEM AND OUTLINING SOME POSSIBLE POLICY ALTERNATIVES FOR THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT. (APPELBAUM/SAUNnERS)
ISRAELI POLITICAL SITUATION: THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN ISRAEL
REMAINS FLUID ALTHOUGH, FOLLOWING MRS. MEIRIS DECISION TO FORM
A MINORITY GOVERNMENT, STEPS HAVE NOW BEEN SET IN MOTION FnQ
CONSULTATIONS ON ALLOCATING CABINET POSTS. AS OF NOW, MRS. MEIR
IS SCHEDULED TO PRESENT HER NEW CABINET TO PRESIDENT KATZIR ON
FEBRUARY 27 AND TO THE KNESSET ON EITHER FEBRUARY 28 OR MARCH 4.
IN THE MEANTIME:
-- MRS. MEIR IS CONTINUING TO MEET RESISTANCE FROM DEFENSE
MINISTER DAYAN AND TRANSPORTATION MINISTER PERES (BOTH
MEMBERS OF THE RAFI FACTION THAT CONTROLS SEVEN SEATS
IN THE PRESENTLY CONSTRUED LABOR ALIGNMENT) ON JOINING
THE NEXT CABINET. ROTH HAVE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THEY
WILL SUPPORT THE NEW MINORITY GOVERNMENT IN THE KNESSET.
PRESS REPORTS HAVE INDICATED MRS. HEIR MAY ASSUME THEIR
PORTFOLIOS HERSELF, LEAVING OPEN THE OPTION THEY MIGHT
RESUME THEIR POSTS AT A LATER TIME.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTY -- WHOSE
REFUSAL TO JOIN THE NEW GOVERNMENT FORCED MRS. MEIR'S
DECISION TO FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT -- HAVE NOT yFT
RESULTED IN A CHANGE OF POLICY BY THE NRP? THEIR ST~ND
ON THE RELIGIOUS QUr-STION OF WHO IS JEWISH HAS BEEN UN-
YIELDING TO DATE. SHE IS LEAVING THEIR SEATS OPEN FOR
THE TIME BEING.
-- LABOR IS CONCERNED THAT THE NRP MAY DECIDE TO ENTER TNTO
ACTIVE OPPOSITION WHICH, TOGETHER WITH LIKUD, COULD
CONSTITUTE A POWERFUL FORCE IN KNESSET COMMITTEES..
LABOR WILL BE CONSULTING WITH THE NRP TO DETERMINE JUST
HOW MUCH SUPPORT IT WILL HAVE 'FROM NRP EVEN IF IT REMAINS
OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT.
-- LIKUD IS ACTIVELY DENOUNCING THE MINORITY GOVERNMENT AND
PSN:Q16861 PAGE 02
TOR:054/11:46Z
DTG:231145Z FEB 74
******* T 0 P S E C R E I *******S COPY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
******* T 0 P S E C R E T *******S COPY
IS REPORTEDLY INITIATING CONTACTS, WITH VARIOUS POLITICAL
FACTIONS WITH THE AIM OF CREATING A GOVERNMENT OF
"NATIONAL UNITY." (INNIEHUSS/SAUNDERS)
IRAQI-IRANIAN SITUATION: THE CONTINUING MOVEMENT OF IRS
ANA IRANIAN TROOPS ANI~ MATERIEL TnWARD THE BORDER
ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN BORDER AREA OF KHUZESTAN
PROVINCE CENTERED AROUND THE CONTINUING MOVFMENT OF TROOPS
AND MATERIEL INTO THE GENERAL AREA OF AHVAZ. AN ARMORED IN-
FANTRY BATTALION, AN ARTILLERY BATTALION, AND AN INFANTRY
BATTALION WERE NOTED BEING DEPLOYED IN THE MEHRAN AREA. ALSO,
WHITLAM GOVERNMENT PLANS Tn MOVE ON RECOGNITION OF NORTH KOREA:
THE AUSTRALIAN CHARGE HERE INFORMED STATE ON FEBRUARY 21 THAT
PRIME MINISTER WHITLAM HAD DECIDED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULn
APPROACH NORTH KOREA NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC RECOGNI-
TION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. DEPUTY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY SNEIDER REITERATED OUR STRONG OBJECTIONS
TO THE TIMING OF THE AUSTRALIAN MOVE, BUT THE AUSTRALIAN CHARGE
SAID THE DECISION WAS FINAL. THERE HAD BEEN SOME-INDICATION
THAT CANBERRA MIGHT DELAY APPROACHING PYONGYANG UNTIL NEXT SUMMER
IN LIGHT OF SEOUL'S THREAT TO RECALL ITS AMBASSADOR.
AS REGARDS THE UK'S PLAN Tr) TELL NORTH KOREA SHORTLY THAT IT
COULD SET UP A TRADE OFFICE IN LONDON, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRE-
TARY SNEIDER ON FEBRUARY 22 CONVEYED TO THE BRITISH OUR PROPLEMS
WITH THE TIMING OF THEIR PROPOSED MOVE. THE UK EMBASSY INDICATED
SYMPATHY WITH OUR OBJECTIONS. SNEIDER, RATHER THAN UNDER SECRE-
TARY SISCO, MADE THE REPRESENTATION SINCE SISCO WAS INVOLVEn WITH
PREPARATIONS FOR YOUR TRIP NEXT WEEK. (FROEBE)
rnMMIIA1TcTG In RPTNFnRf F MR_4:
(ALSO, INTERCEPTED MESSAGES HAVE REFERENCED
AN NVA/VC REQUEST THAT THE KHMER COMMUNISTS PERMIT TRANSIT
OF SOME 5,000 PERSONNEL THROUGH THE BORDER REGION TO THE
SOUTHERN DELTA. THIS REQUEST REFLECTS AN EARLIER ARRANGE
MFNT IN WHICH THE KHMER COMMUNISTS REPORTEDLY AGREED TO PRO
VIDE RICE AND ALLOW TRANSIT TO THE NVA IN EXCHANGE FOR A S()P-
PSN 016861 PAGE 03 TDR:054/I1:46Z DTG:231145Z FEB 74
******* T O P S E C R E T ***
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
 Fu w
r
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3
W
S E C R E T *******S COPY
STANTIAL AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT. THESE REPORTS SQUARE WITH A
RECENT HIGH LEVEL INTELLIGENCE THAT THE VC/NVA ARE CONCERNEn
OVER THAI WEAKNESS IN MR-4 AND WILL CONCENTRATE IN COMING
MONTHS ON EXPANDING THEIR HOLDINGS IN THIS AREA. (STEARMAN/
DAMS)
TOP SECRET-SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
1341
PSN:016861 PAGE 04 OF 04 TOR:054/11:46Z DTG:231145Z FEB 74
******* T 0 P S E C R E T *******S COpv
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/10/27: LOC-HAK-549-1-44-3