(u)
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA 241730Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO. 32 OF 24 JANUARY 1973. INFO ROUTINE
WASHINGTON, UKMIS NEW YORK, GOVERNOR HONG KONG.
HONG KONG TELNO. 82 TO FCO.
UN COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS.
1.
INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE US, TURKISH, AUSTRALIAN
AND ARGENTINIAN DELEGATIONS HAVE LED TO A TRANSFORMATION OF THE
ORIGINAL US PROPOSAL ON REGIONAL SUB-COMMISSIONS. THE US ARE
NOW CANVASSING SUPPORT FOR THREE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS (TEXTS OF RELEVANT PARAGRAPHS IN MIFT).
2.
RESOLUTION 1: MIDDLE EAST,
US AND TURKISH SUPPORT FOR CONVERTING THE AD HOC
COMMITTEE INTO A SUB-COMMISSION IS IN PART PROMPTED BY A WISH
TO MEET AFGHAN SENSITIVITY AT BEING ONLY OBSERVERS IN THE FORMER:
THEY WOULD BE FULL MEMBERS OF THE LATTER. WE ASSUME WE MAY
ACQUIESCE PROVIDED DISCUSSION DEMONSTRATES ITS POTENTIAL
USEFULNESS.
3.
RESOLUTION 2: LATIN AMERICA.
THE LATIN AMERICANS INFORMED THE US THATTHEY DID NOT
WISH PRESENT REGIONAL MACHINERY TO BE DUPLICATED BY THE UN: THE US
CONSEQUENTLY DROPPED THE PROPOSAL.
4. RESOLUTION 3: SOUTH-EAST ASIA.
AUSTRALIAN SOUNDINGS REVEALED THAT BURMA AND SINGAPORE
ARE FIRMLY AGAINST THE IDEA OF A SUB-COMMISSION: SOUTH VIETNAM
AND LAOS GAVE QUALIFIED SUPPORT. THE SPONSORS THEREFORE NOW
OPT FOR AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHICH THEY ASSUME WOULD BE COMPOSED
OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION (WHICH WOULD
NOT INCLUDE HONG KONG). THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS, FOR THE TURKS,
THE MINIMUM COUNTERWEIGHT TO THE MIDDLE EASTERN SUD-COMMISSION.
CONFIDENTIAL
/UNLESS