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to inaction: I detect a trace of this thinking in the reference to creating a noise at the end of paragraph 29. This argument may be valid in some countries, especially where there is some sensitivity to world opinion, but not in the peculiar circumstances of Burma. I believe the worst way to try and get the Burmese to do anything is for outsiders to attempt to prossurise them publicly; this brings out all their native mulishness and nationalism.
6. The fact is that the struggle against the various insurgent groups is about the most important priority of the Burmese Government. The trade in arms, supplies and cash in exchange for opium is the life-blood of many of these groups. The Burmese would dearly like to interdict it. Moreover it has been becoming clear in recent months to the Burmese that they have more of an internal drug problem (including heroin) than they had thought, and they are becoming seriously perturbed about it. Partly this is because traffickers whose export trade has been hampered by recent steps in Thailand and elsewhere to control it have started turning to easier markets in Burma itself. While the last thing the Burmese went is to be seen to be responding to American pressures, the American Ambassador here is much encouraged by the extent to which they are in fact trying to put their on house in order.
7. I was interested to see that the report by the Survey team of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Congress (January 11 1973) rightly recognises the part played by the clandestine arms trade. If anyone really wanted to help the Burmese resolve the insurgency situation and gain control of the opium producing areas, the place to bring pressure would be on those outside Burma who are furnishing, or conniving at the furnishing of, the arms, Supplies and funds (in exchange for opium or otherwise) which enable the insurgent groups to remain in being. In this connection you will have seen my letter 1/2 of 31 Janu ry about the West German rifles originally supplied to the Royal Thai Army and captured from the "United Front Liberation Forces" landing party rounded up recently in the Delta.
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