812.114 Narcotics/9–2647
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico ( Thurston )
No. 1518
Sir: Reference is made to the Department’s instructions nos. 1193 of May 19, 1947, 1407 of August 9, 1947 and 1495 of September 26, 1947,64 in regard to the traffic in narcotic drugs between Mexico and the United States.
The information transmitted by the Embassy during the past year clearly indicates that narcotic conditions have worsened and that the Mexican Government has relaxed its vigilance.
The Department concurs with the Embassy’s view that the situation is a difficult one for the Mexican Government to handle and that the cost of strictly enforcing prohibition of the cultivation of opium poppies would be great. The Government of Mexico does, however, have; the inescapable duty of trying to prevent illicit traffic in narcotic drugs. It cannot pass this responsibility on to any other government. All the United States Government can do is to cooperate with the Mexican authorities in every appropriate way with a view to keeping the traffic at a minimum.
This Department and the Treasury Department believe that it would be advisable for you to have a frank discussion with the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs65 about prevailing conditions. This discussion might be based, in your discretion, on parts of the report dated August 19, 1947 of Treasury Representative Delagrave addressed to the Commissioner of Customs, Washington, D.C., and other information in the possession of the Embassy, which is believed to be reliable.
You are authorized to impress upon the Mexican Foreign Office the concern felt by our Government over existing conditions, which are a serious menace to the health of our people, and again to urge the Mexican [Page 839] Government to exert every effort to prevent the cultivation of opium poppies this fall and to combat actively other forms of the illicit traffic.
Very truly yours,