TNAG-0560-FCO40-655-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 59

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AL

Mr Walton

Pl.

(32)

spekampe. explum

1

TJ O'Brien Esq CMG MC RANGOON

Telephone 01-

27/2

Your reference

Our reference

Date

27 February 1975

Deer Terence,

DRUGS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA:

1.

ADRIAN COWELL

Thank you for your letter 2/4 of 10 February. I am glad you found Hong Kong telegram No 127 reassuring (the number 117 was a mistake). You can take it that everybody involved in this question on the British side, both here and in Hong Kong, is well aware that the political considerations involved make it out of the question for us to have anything to do with Cowell's ideas about pre-emptive buying from Burmese rebels.

2.

If you think it advisable, I would see no objection to your talking to the Burmese Foreign Ministry on the lines you suggest. You will presumably not think it necessary to do this unless your US colleague receives permission to tell them about Woolff's activities.

If you do decide to tell the Burmese about Cowell's conversation with Rolph, it might be worth stressing the following points:

3.

(a) (b)

(c)

(a)

Cowell's call on Rolph was at the former's initiative. Our people in Hong Kong are naturally deeply concerned at the quantity of drugs which reach Hong Kong from South East Asia. They accordingly like to keep in touch with all developments in this field.

The British Government would not for a moment consider any plan which involved making arrangements with rebels against the Burmese Government. Rolph is fully aware of this. He listened to Cowell, but said nothing to indicate any support for his ideas.

So far, Cowell has not tried to enlist our support for his plans; we would, for the reason given above, certainly refuse to give him any support if he did ask for it.

/4. I

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