Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

449. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon¹

Washington, June 28, 1971.

SUBJECT

• Opium Eradication in Turkey

Following your meeting on June 14 on narcotics,² Ambassador Handley has had a series of exchanges with Turkish Prime Minister Erim and his key Cabinet advisers as a result of which the GOT has agreed to issue a decree no later than June 30, 1971, announcing that opium poppy cultivation will no longer be permitted after this yearʼs planting (under the present law the Turks are committed to four provinces for the Fall 1971 planting); i.e., eradication effective in the Fall of 1972.³ As instructed, Ambassador Handley has indicated in return our willingness to extend assistance to meet foreign exchange losses to the Turkish Government and to help compensate farmers for their loss of income for a transition period of three (with a possible stretchout to four) years, for which a grant of up to $15 million would be available.⁴ A program of voluntary abstention from planting in the final year could increase this somewhat. In addition, we would pledge grant aid of $10 million for FY 1972 and $10 million for FY 1973 to assist the Turkish Government program to restructure the economy of the opium producing area in order to provide a new way of life for the families involved. We have also agreed to enlist the cooperation of international organizations and private foundations to help Turkey in this effort.

The Prime Minister feels that it is a key element of his proposal to have a public statement by you after the Turkish decree is issued and his own statement is made explaining his decision to the Turkish people. He would like to see included in your statement the following: reassurances of U.S. friendship; full recognition of his Governmentʼs efforts to control and eradicate opium; a promise of U.S. help in the affected areas, including enlisting the help of international organizations and private foundations; and a reiteration that military collaboration between the U.S. and Turkey will continue. Erim has also suggested that he would like to have a high-level agricultural mission to assist and advise in the basic agrarian reforms his Government will propose.

On June 26, in his last meeting with Ambassador Handley, Prime Minister Erim said he wished you to know that you have a reliable ally in Turkey, and that in the end it was not money but friendship that induced him to make the decision for eradication.

Recommendation

1. That you confirm the financial arrangements that would provide a total grant of up to $35 million ($15 million in a three-year compensation program and $10 million for investment in each year of FY 1972 and 1973).

2. That you approve the statement in the attached telegram, along the lines suggested by Prime Minister Erim, to be issued shortly after the Turkish decision is announced.

3. That you endorse in principle sending a high-level agricultural mission to Turkey, with the details and timing to be worked out later.

The Secretary of Treasury, the Attorney General and the Administrator for AID concur in these recommendations, which reflect the discussions in a conference attended by the Secretary of Treasury and the Attorney General, where agreement was reached on the instructions for Ambassador Handley.⁵

William P. Rogers

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 633, Country Files—Middle East, Turkey, Vol. II 1 Jan 1970–31 Dec 1971. Secret.
2. See Document 448.
3. In telegram 4337 from Ankara, June 21, Handley reported on a “long and frank discussion” with Erim on June 21 at which time Erim agreed to the three U.S. proposals: complete eradication by June 1972, full purchase of the current opium crop by Turkey, and legislation making poppy farming illegal provided that the United States was prepared to provide long term assistance to farmers affected by the ban on poppy growing. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 633, Country Files—Middle East, Turkey, Vol. II 1 Jan 1970–31 Dec 1971) In telegram 4302 from Ankara, June 24, the Embassy reported that Turkish experts were floating $400 million as the figure for compensation for lost opium production. (Ibid.)
4. In telegram 113776 to Ankara, June 24, Rogers and Sisco stated that “the idea of including substantial compensation for assumed losses from illicit production is unconscionable.” They suggested the figures cited here. (Ibid.) In telegram 4439 from Ankara, June 24, Handley reported that he and Erim had reached preliminary agreement on these terms. (Ibid.)
5. Nixon approved these recommendations and the statement. (Memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon, June 28; ibid., Box 358, Subject Files, Narcotics, (1971) Vol. IV)