C.S. 143
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BY BAB
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Ref: (16) in N8 76/76/985
Colonial Secretariat,
Hong Kong,
20th January 1975
I refer to Routine F.C.0, telegram number 28 of 10th January, 1975 to me concerning a possible visit of Adrian Cowell to Hong Kong last week. In the event he did not surface and so far as I am aware he has not beɛn in town. I can only imaging that this chap must be a considerable embarrassment to the F.C.0. and to our Embassies at Bangkok and Rangoon. His entrios and exits to and from Burma must be unlawful presumably, whilst the Central Government at Rangoon can hardly be unaware of his presence with an insurgent group when he is in the Shan State. Cowell's latest T.V. Film 'Opium Warlords' cannot have pleased the Burmese Government, or have done much good to British relations with Burma, though there does not appear to have been any overt reaction to it from Rangoon to the best of my knowledgs.
I attach a copy of some papers emanating from Adrian Cowell to do with pre-emptive opium buying which came into my hands lnst week. They are somewhat out of date, but nevertheless they are of interest in the light of a similar type of approach made to the Americans by Lo Sing Han (now in gaol in Rengoon) at the end of 1972. This was reported to Andrew Etuert by our Political Adviser on 31st January, 1973 under reference &CA 6/1316/56 II.
Of course there can be no question of ourselves, or any friendly country in diplomatic relations with the Burmesa Government, entering into negotiations with the Shan State Army or other insurgent groups to buy opium. This is well understood here.
When I saw Lester Wolff on 6th January, 1975 he mentionod that he would be visiting northern Thailand, but ha made no reference to Adrien Cowell or to a meeting with representatives of the Shan State Army. He did say that he regardo oplum crop substitution progremmas as a failure, his opinion being coloured primarily no doubt by the American fiasco in this rerpect in Turkey.
A secret and dalicâte source has recently disclosed that Premier Ne Win of Burma has soma incolate idean about buying opium from one or more insurgent g reps in the Shan State. The expending activities of the Burmese Communista in eastern Shan ara a constant threat to the Rangoor. Government and have been so for a long timy past. There is now an indication that the Shen United Army, and perhaps other dissident groups, are thinking about joining the Communists. If this happened it would be a scrious matter indeed for the Central Governmant. Opium is the lifeblood of eastern Ghen es No Win wall knows. I suppose he thinks that to buy their rpium
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