CONFIDENTIAL Reference.....
Mr Stuat. Thanks
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NARCOTICS:
ADRIAN COWELL
1. Your manuscript minute on Rangoon telegram no 9
attached below.
2.
Please see the record of a meeting which was held in the FCO on 9 January to discuss:-
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(i)
(ii)
Norman Rolph's plea for a new UN initiative to curb the illicit traffic in narcotics from the Golden Triangle, and
the suggestion by Adrian Cowell, a television journalist (please see Chris Train's letter of 7 January), that the Hong Kong Government might be interested in a scheme for the pre- emptive buying of opium direct from the Shan State Army.
You will see from the record of the meeting that it was agreed that nothing could be done, at least for the present, in the way of new UN initiatives in the Golden Triangle area. Mr Train preferred that we should not write to Mr Rolph saying there was no prospect of any new development but that, instead, he would discuss it with Rolph at Geneva in February.
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It was also agreed that Cowell's proposal for pre-emptive buying of opium was a non-starter and, because Cowell was shortly to visit Hong Kong, I would send a telegram to Hong Kong suggesting Rolph should not encourage Cowell's scheme.
5. In paragraph 5 of their telegram no 9, Rangoon asked for confirmation that Cowell's proposals would not be pursued. However, SEAD are forwarding to Rangoon a copy of the papers that Cowell left with Chris Train, and they will assure them that there is no possibility of Cowell's proposals being considered seriously. You will have seen Hong Kong telegram no 72 saying that Cowell has not turned up in Hong Kong.
Andlatter
A L Wotton
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept
た
24 January 1975
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CONFIDENTIAL