183. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2
SUBJECT:
- International Action Against Drug Abuse
On November 11 the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) approved by a vote of 22 for, none against and 2 abstentions (USSR and Bulgaria) the resolution introduced by the United States (Tab A) endorsing the recommendations of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for concerted UN action against drug abuse and the establishment of a UN Fund for drug abuse control.
This approval authorizes certain immediate measures on an urgent basis subject to the availability of financing through the special voluntary UN Fund. These measures include the expansion of the research and information facilities of the UN drug control bodies; the planning and execution of programs of technical assistance to establish and improve national drug control administrations and enforcement machinery and train needed personnel; and the enlargement of the capabilities and extension of the operations of the UN drug control bodies and their secretariats. This approval also authorizes and directs the Secretary General to draw up a plan for long-term action including, for example, crop substitution programs, calling upon the UN specialized agencies and other competent international bodies for help as appropriate. The WHO, FAO and UNESCO, among others, have pledged their cooperation.
The United States announced an initial contribution of 2 million dollars to the UN Fund subject to Congressional approval. The Federal Republic of Germany has pledged 1 million marks. It is hoped that with other voluntary [Page 2] contributions the Fund will reach 5 million dollars in the first year and increase in subsequent years. In the absence of available resources elsewhere within the UN system a special fund was essential, but there is support and justification for its eventual merger into the UN Development Program.
This overwhelming support by ECOSOC is the culmination of an American initiative which began with the calling of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs into special session and continued with the Commission’s approval of the coordinated international program proposed by the United States. The United States delegation confronted the Commission with the increasing gravity of drug abuse in the United States and worldwide and challenged the international community to act. The Commission recognized the special concern of the United States, elected the U.S. Representative Rapporteur of the meeting and approved without a dissenting vote the recommendations which ECOSOC has now endorsed. I am enclosing a copy of the U.S. Delegation’s report (Tab B).
In the Commission on Narcotic Drugs the United States collaborated most closely with Turkey, India and Sweden who were the original cosponsors of the resolution. Subsequently Brazil, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ghana, Iran and Pakistan joined in cosponsorship. In ECOSOC the U.S. resolution had the cosponsorship of Brazil, Greece, Indonesia, Norway and Uruguay. In the debate on the resolution France gave outstanding support, Argentina, Ceylon and Peru gave strong support and the United Kingdom, India, Yugoslavia and Japan expressed general approval and cast affirmative votes.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SOC 11-5 ECOSOC. Unclassified. Tabs A and B were attached but not published. A copy was sent to Moynihan.↩
- Johnson reported that the ECOSOC Council had approved a U.S. resolution calling for the establishment of a voluntary UN fund for drug abuse control.↩