Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

328. Report of the U.S. Delegation to the Sixteenth Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs¹

Washington, May 23, 1961.

[Here follow Section 1, Background of the Conference; Section 2, Agenda for Conference; Section 3, Participation in Conference; Section 4, United States Delegation; and Section 5, Organization of the Conference.]

6. Work of the Committee.

The Committee on Illicit Traffic reviewed the illicit narcotic traffic for the year 1960. The work of the Committee was guided by summaries on illicit transactions and seizures, by annual report documents, by discussion of international investigations, and by special documents prepared for study by the Committee.

The representative of the United States on this Committee presented documented cases showing international cooperation in tracing the source of the narcotic contraband, and obtained endorsement of strict enforcement procedures for presentation to the Commission.

7. Work of the Conference.

The Commission adopted two resolutions presented by the United States Delegation, as follows:

a. Abuse of Drugs (Drug Addiction)

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

(1) Declares that one of the most effective methods of treatment for narcotic addiction is civil commitment in a hospital institution having a drug-free atmosphere;

(2) Urges Member Governments having a serious drug addiction problem, and the economic means to do so, to provide such facilities.

b. Illicit Traffic

(1) Recognizing the urgent need for increasingly effective narcotic enforcement procedures, for close co-operation between governments with prompt exchange of information, and for strong national legislation including adequate narcotic penalty provisions,

(2) Realizing that too great a disparity in penalties awarded in different countries to convicted traffickers and smugglers of narcotics prejudices international efforts to counter illicit traffic in cocaine, opium, morphine, heroin and cannabis in many areas of the world,

(3) Considering that in countries having a serious problem of illicit narcotic traffic sustained programs of strict enforcement which would ensure the arrest of narcotic traffickers and the certainty that on conviction they would be confined for substantial minimum periods without any provisional release, in accordance with the constitution of any country concerned,

(a) Recommends that Governments having a serious problem of illicit traffic in narcotics take necessary measures for close co-operation and for prompt exchange of information and to ensure imposition of adequate sentences against such unlawful narcotic traffickers.

The Commission adopted a resolution presented by the United Kingdom calling for a study and ratification of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as follows:

(c) The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolution:

The Economic and Social Council,

(1) Noting with satisfaction that the Plenipotentiary Conference called under the terms of its resolution 689 J (XXVI) for the adoption of a single convention on narcotic drugs has adopted such a treaty,

(2) Considering that this Convention when in force will in particular codify the multilateral treaty law in this field and simplify the international control machinery,

(3) Desirous that the international society of States should benefit from these new provisions as soon as may be possible; desirous also that the transitional period of simultaneous existence of the old and new treaty system should be shortened to the greatest possible extent, and

(4) Noting that under the terms of the new Convention the ratification and accession of forty States will be necessary for its coming into force,

(a) Invites all Members of the United Nations and all non-member States which are Parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice or members of a specialized agency of the United Nations, to study as expeditiously as possible the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 30 March 1961, with a view to signing and ratifying, or acceding to, the Convention, as the case may be.

8. Future Meetings.

The United States Delegation was able to obtain a postponement until the 17th session of debate on a resolution sponsored by Turkey, United Arab Republic, and Yugoslavia concerning international control of barbiturates. The resolution proposed is as follows:

Control of Barbiturates

The Commission,

Recalling resolutions VI and VII adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its twelfth session,

Considering the social danger and the danger to public health arising from the abuse of barbiturates, as reported by the World Health Organization,

Recommends

a. that governments should take appropriate measures to place the production, distribution and use of such drugs under strict control;

b. that the competent organs of the United Nations and the World Health Organization should examine the necessity and the possibility of adopting adequate measures for the international control of such drugs.

9. Conclusions.

At the opening of the Sixteenth Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the following statements were made with reference to the Question of the Representation of China. The statements of the USSR, Hungary, and Yugoslavia were apparently political instructions. Statements of this nature are usually made at the beginning of each meeting of the Commission.

QUESTION OF THE REPRESENTATION OF CHINA

Mrs. Vassilieva (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) expressed regret that the People’s Republic of China, a country which occupied nearly one-quarter of the total land area of the globe and had a population of more than 600 million inhabitants, was not represented on the Commission.

Mr. Liang (China) found it regrettable that the representative of the USSR had once again raised a political issue in a functional Commission. The General Assembly at its fifteenth session had rejected proposals to discuss the question of the representation of China and it was out of place for a body such as the Commission to touch upon it.

Mr. Vertes (Hungary) deplored the fact that China was unable to participate in the campaign against narcotic drugs. The possibilities of increased international co-operation in that field were hampered by the fact that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China was not represented on the Commission.

Mr. Flues (United States of America) regretted that the representative of the USSR had raised the question of China’s representation. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, like other functional commissions, had repeatedly refused to consider the issue on the grounds that it was not competent to do so.

Mr. Nikolic (Yugoslavia) urged that the Chinese seat on the Commission should be occupied by a representative of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China.

The Chairman said that the views expressed would be noted in the summary record of the meeting.

The USSR, Hungary, Yugoslavia, India, and the United Kingdom abstained in the vote on the United States sponsored resolution for civil commitment of narcotic addicts. The United Kingdom, explaining its abstention, stated its own narcotic addiction problem was minor.

Twelve delegations, including the USSR, Hungary, India, Yugoslavia, joined the United States Delegation in voting for strict enforcement of narcotic laws, including minimum mandatory penalty laws for traffickers.

Turkey abstained, its representative stating that his country believed strict controls should be applied in all countries rather than in only those countries having a serious narcotic problem, as stated in the resolution.

The United Kingdom resolution on the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was adopted with 12 votes for, and 3 abstentions, they being the USSR, Yugoslavia, and Hungary.

The United States proposal to postpone debate on barbiturate control until the 17th session was adopted by 8 votes for (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Iran, Netherlands, Peru, and China), 2 against (India and Hungary), and 5 abstentions (USSR, Yugoslavia, Hungary, United Arab Republic, and France).

Generally, Soviet Bloc action during the session was at a minimum. The United States was able to maintain leadership and substantial support throughout the session. The support of the Canadian delegate as Chairman and a close working relationship with the United Kingdom delegate were strong factors. Among the observers, representatives of Thailand, Greece, Burma, Iran, Ghana, and Brazil were particularly strong in their interest and support of the United States Delegation.

The two resolutions adopted under the sponsorship of the United States Delegation represent important forward steps in repressing and correcting narcotic addiction and traffic. The delay on the resolution concerning barbiturates was obtained to prevent the adoption of a resolution concerning drugs which are not significantly found in the illicit traffic, and which more appropriately should be subjected to strict national control rather than international control.

The United States is a recognized leader in narcotics control, both licit and illicit, throughout the world. It has vigorously encouraged and assisted every effort toward better controls wherever and whenever narcotics problems exist. The resolutions sponsored by the United States Delegation and adopted by the Commission are significant milestones along the road toward effective narcotics control, and as expressions of world opinion speaking through such an expert body as the Commission represents must have a definite impact on the programs and procedures for narcotic control within the several countries. As such steps as civil commitment of narcotic addicts for treatment in a drug-free environment, closer cooperation between governments, more prompt and comprehensive interchange of information, and minimum mandatory sentences for illicit traffickers, become accepted procedures, enforcement authorities the world over will look confidently toward achieving their control objectives, while people everywhere will benefit from an alleviation of the narcotic addiction curse.

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 341.9/5–2361. No classification marking. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury A. Gilmore Flues headed the U.S. Delegation.