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CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Goldsmith
Barsten
Mr
Enrer
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10/11
BRITISH EMBASSY
RANGOON
4 November 1975
F J Law Esq Bangkok
REGISTRY 10. 51
10 NOV 1975
NCK 1911
NARCOTICS
1
There are three points concerning narcotics in Burma which are just worth a mention. First, the view which the US Embassy here are now taking of the successful operations mounted against insurgent opium refineries in the Shan States, about which I wrote on 20 October, is that much of their significance lies in the destruction of an important logistic base where the insurgent traffickers could not only refine opium, but hold other stores, quarter mer and mules etc. The Embassy are also drawing the conclusion that the modest sums that the US Government have out- layed on assistance to the Burmese for the suppression of narcotics have been well spent. They point up a contrast with Thailand where outlays have been larger than achievements. This comment may be a reflection of Senator hansfield's findings (our telegram number 125 to FCO).
2
The second point is that I am now. able to answer the question raised in paragraph 4 of your letter 19/2/BUR of 12 September: Burma will not attend the annual regional conference for Heads of Narcotics Bureau in Jakarta in November. the reason given is the shortage of officers who might represent
Officially Burma at such a meeting.
3
Finally and in forwarding to you our press cuttings for 1975, I would draw your attention to the prominence given to narcotics during the Fourth Session of the First People's Assembly which concluded last week. It is not easy for the Government to find suitable topics for the Assembly, but narcotics is probably one such subject. One may also suspect that cases of addiction continue to come forcibly to the attention of the Government though reports by their children.
J S Chick
Copy to:- D Warren Esq
SEAD, 7CO
JF Millington MVO Washington
Research Dept, FCO
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