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COLONIAL SECRETARIAT. HONG KONG.
Ref: (19) in N6 76/76/985
22nd January 1975
Further to my number (16) in this series of 20th January, 1975 I now attach a copy of an unclassified press statement about Golden Triangle opium production and related matters released in Washington on 16th January by Lester Wolff. It reached me yesterday from Norman Getsinger, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Consulate-General in Hong Kong.
Discounting the histrionics, the important section of this statement is contained in the final three paragraphs. The excellent cooperation with British and Hong Kong authorities at paragraph 5 presumably refers primarily to our UK/HK/US meetings. It may also include Peter Law's good work at Bangkok with the D.E.A. and the Thais, and our own close day-to-day working relationship with the D.E.A. at Hong Kong which has always been of a high order in my experience.
The question of the opium being trafficked by insurgent groups in Shan State needs to be read in conjunction with Wolff's dealings with Adrian Cowell and the recent meeting they probably held with representatives of the Shan State Army in northern Thailand.
I do not believe Wolff is so naive as to think that the American Government would become involved in pre-emptive opium buying from dissident guerilla groups whilst maintaining an Embassy at Rangoon and friendly relations with the Burmese Government. He must realise that the State Department could never agree to such a course of action.
Wolff's current wheeling and dealing with Cowell and representatives of the Shan State Army may be concerned with trying to evolve a plan to channel the illicit opium production of Shan State into the hands of the Central Government at Rangoon. If so, he would then be hoping no doubt to be able to arrange for its disposal in a lawful fashion. This would tie up with the information contained in my previous letter number (16).
It will be interesting to sea what, if anything, transpires. Wolff does not enjoy a particularly good reputation in this region in Government circles, but he is nothing if not persistent. True to form he gives the State Department some stick. We may find out more exactly what is going on when we meet Sheldon Vance at Geneva next month.
I attach a duplicate copy of these papers for the
F.C.0.
Mr. C.J. Train, (2),
Asst. Secretary of State,
Home Office,
Romney House,
LONDON, 8.W.1.
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&
(N.G. Rolph)
Commissioner for Narcotics
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