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

450. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State¹

Ankara, June 30, 1971, 1215Z.

4518. For the Secretary from Handley. Subj: Narcotics: Meeting With Foreign Minister Olcay. Ref: A) State 116137; B) Ambassadorʼs telcons with NEA/TUR and Egil Krogh, White House, June 29.²

Summary: Foreign Minister and I, at virtually last minute session at his residence June 29, reached agreement that Turkey would, after fall of 1972, no longer grow opium poppy. We agreed on few relatively minor changes in USG proposal contained reftel. This in no way altered basic fact that for grants of about $35 million over three–four year period, GOT will grow no more poppies after harvesting of crop to be planted this coming fall and spring. End summary.

1. At end of long day during which we were in almost constant contact with GOT officials, I met at 1930 with Foreign Minister Olcay.

At end of meeting, we had arrived at agreement on eradication of Turkish opium as of fall of 1972.

2. Meeting of one hour and 45 minutes took place at Foreign Ministerʼs official residence. FonMin Deputy Dir Gen Arim was with Olcay; Hill, Toner and Greene came with me.

3. Olcay had just returned that morning from three-day official visit to Iran and was not, therefore, fully briefed on our June 26 meeting with Prime Minister Erim nor on other weekend developments. I opened meeting by giving him copy of proposed statement by President Nixon (State 116136).³ Our discussions about it were useful in bringing Olcay up to date.

4. In lengthy review of proposed Presidential statement, Olcay had two broad problems: a) he said Prime Minister would want more specifics about long range assistance and b) he wondered what would happen if the two grants of $10 million each were not enough “to take care of the problem.” To first point, we noted Presidential messages are never detailed and we thought this was unusually strong one. He agreed. I reminded Olcay that message covered all subjects which Erim had wanted.

5. As for money, I reminded him that what was involved was $10–$15 million to compensate farmers and cover foreign exchange losses (noting that this was now for three–four year period) and $10 million grant in each of FY 72 and 73. “This amounts to maximum of $35 million for a fraction of your farmers who are fractionally engaged in poppy farming.” I concluded that seemed generous offer to me. Olcay said he personally also thought the two $10 million grants would be sufficient, but “others” disagreed. As I had said to Erim on June 26, the opium issue now encompassed entire range of US-Turk relations. “$35 million is not small amount when you consider what else Turkey is getting.”

6. We then turned to slightly expurgated version of my instructions (paras 2–10 reftel) which we had informally shown to Erim at Foreign Ministry that morning. On request for legislation banning further opium poppy cultivation (para 3 reftel), Olcay said he found suggestion “undemocratic.” He asked “How can govt in democratic country promise to pass a bill?” After discussing several word changes, we suggested and Olcay accepted “undertake to seek enactment of legislation banning further opium poppy production.”

7. Turning to amounts of money listed in paras 4 and 5 of reftel, Olcay reviewed his and Prime Ministerʼs doubts about longer range. “How can you make promise of precise long range assistance?” I reminded him of many Congressional proposals to cut off aid to Turkey because of opium production.

8. Foreign Minister said he was worried about $10–$15 million range and possibility lower figure might be used. Likewise he was not convinced that full $20 million grant would be forthcoming from other two amounts. I then agreed that three amounts could read “minimum of $15 million,” “minimum of $10 million,” and “minimum of $10 million,” on understanding this did not in any sense commit US to any higher figure but would help GOT presentationally in explaining US undertaking to Turkish political leaders.

9. Olcay then brought up one of most familiar Turkish themes in our discussions—necessity to earn, over long run, foreign exchange equal to that now earned by opium. He reported that Deputy Prime Minister Karaosmanoglu still believes that this is a crucial point and that investments replacing opium must include factories for such things as shoes which could then be exported to US and elsewhere. Toner reminded Olcay of our earlier proposal related to onion and garlic dehydration plant and said AID studies indicated there would be good market for such products in Europe. As means of meeting GOT concern without expanding US commitment, we agreed on adding at end of para 4 following phrase: “and help create new sources of foreign exchange.” This seemed satisfy Olcay.

10. There were no problems with paras 6 and 7 reftel. Olcay did note that Erim considers visit by agricultural experts important.

11. Re para 8, we discussed timing of statements to be made on June 30. Later that night, after Arim brought us copy of Prime Ministerʼs statement, we agreed on following: GOT decree (Ankara 4498),⁴ to be released during morning June 30; Prime Ministerʼs statement (Ankara 4499)⁵ to be released at noon June 30 Ankara time and to be reported on Radio Ankara news reports; President Nixonʼs statement to be made at noon Washington time (subsequently changed on basis telcon to 0900 Washington time), which would mean it could be reported on 1900 radio news program, Ankara time.

12. Olcay professed not to understand para 9 (re proposed further grant if voluntary program in 1971–72 season at least 35 percent successful). He had earlier mentioned “35 percent” in telephone conversation with me and we had agreed that word “significant” might be better than using actual figure. We now confirmed that earlier agreement.

13. Olcay wondered about condition in para 10. I replied “If there 100 tons of illegal opium from this yearʼs crop, President Nixon would have great difficulties in explaining to American public any assistance to GOT.” Olcay replied he not objecting to principle stated there, but perhaps to grammar, but he then passed on to other subjects.⁶

14. Arim then gave us advance copies of Turkish decree which GOT would issue June 30 and gave oral summary in English. He promised to bring copies of Prime Ministerʼs statement to my residence later in evening.

15. Comment: After I read Prime Ministerʼs statement brought to residence by Arim late last night, after my meeting with Olcay, I and my colleagues felt that he had said as eloquently and persuasively as anyone could why Turkey should permanently prohibit poppy planting beginning in the fall of 1972. In terms of overall figures, I made no concessions, but in conversations with NEA/TUR and in telephone call I received from Deputy Assistant to President Krogh, I identified those specific changes from my instructions which I felt were necessary to close the deal. The issuance this morning of the decree, the first substantive paragraph of which proclaims to all of Turkey the definite forbidding of the planting and production of the poppy within the borders of Turkey beginning with the autumn of 1972, seems to me to be a statement which countries other than Turkey may well consider and makes me proud of the courage shown by the present leadership in Turkey in taking such a giant step.

16. I do hope that the suggestions I made in last para Ankara 4441⁷ to encourage prominent American personalities to make public congratulatory statements about Turkeyʼs historic decision can be given high priority. It is my impression that the Prime Minister would like to be internationally recognized for an act that he considers to be a major contribution to humanity.

Handley

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; Priority; Exdis.
2. Telegram 116137, June 29, set out U.S. understanding of the terms of the agreement with Turkey on opium planting suppression. (Ibid.) No record of the telephone discussions with either NEA/TUR or Krogh was found.
3. Dated June 29. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, INCO–DRUGS–TUR)
4. Dated June 30. (Ibid.)
5. Dated June 30. (Ibid.)
6. In telegram 4641 from Ankara, July 7, Handley noted the desire of Turkish officials for a written statement outlining the terms of the U.S.-Turkish agreement and proposed wording for such a statement that he could deliver to Erim. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 633, Country Files—Middle East, Turkey, Vol. II 1 Jan 1970–31 Dec 1971) The Department of State granted authorization for the letter in telegram 127415 to Ankara, July 15. (Ibid.)
7. Dated June 27. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, INCO–DRUGS–TUR)