Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973–1976

177. Telegram 119686 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts¹ ²

Washington, July 1, 1975, 1900Z

Subject:

• Narcotics: The Role of the Embassy Narcotics Coordinator

Ref:

• A) State 241812 (11/2/74); B) State 14796; C) State 233134 (10/23/74)

1. From time to time we have received indications that there are uncertainties in the field concerning the position and the role of the Embassy Narcotics Coordinator. It is hoped that this message, which reviews the question, will be helpful to the coordinators, as well as to Chiefs of Mission and other Embassy officials concerned in one way or another with the narcotics control program. And, it should be particularly useful to officers moving into the function for the first time. Assignments and position functions are, of course, the ultimate responsibility of the Chief of Mission. Accordingly, it is recognized that the concept of the position as seen in Washington will inevitably be adjusted to each Mission Chief’s needs in meeting his own responsibility to assure for the USG the most expeditious and effective accomplishment feasible of the Embassy’s narcotics program.

2. The implementation of the international narcotics control program involves several US federal agencies. Their coordination in Washington is achieved through the structure of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control, chaired by the Secretary of State. Ambassador Sheldon B. Vance serves as Executive Director of that committee and also as Senior Adviser and Coordinator for International Narcotics Matters. Reference A provides a description of the CCINC mechanism. In addition to the Department of State, other agencies having a role in the program and whose activities and views must be coordinated are represented therein, including DEA, Treasury/Customs, Agriculture, AID, USIA, Defense, CIA, and the US Ambassador to the UN.

3. At the Mission level, the Embassy Narcotics Coordinator (usually an FSO) should be the key assistant to the Ambassador as the Chief of Mission plays his role of assuring that the activities of all Mission components are directed appropriately to attain the goals of our international narcotics control program expeditiously and effectively. The coordination task will necessarily vary from post to post depending on the importance of the host country to the United States from the narcotics standpoint, the USG narcotics objectives and goals, the size and complexity of the bilateral narcotics assistance program being carried out, and the number of US agencies within the CCINC structure represented at post. Likewise the personal rank and positioning in the Embassy staff of the Coordinator would vary depending on these same considerations. At some posts he is the DCM. At any rate, because of the high US national interest in narcotics control, the Coordinator should have access to the Ambassador and the DCM and be empowered to perform the coordination role with their full support and authority. The heads of all Mission elements involved in the program must also understand that the Coordinator must be fully informed of all their activities on a continuing basis and that he represents the Ambassador on narcotics matters. This does not mean that other Mission elements’ access to senior levels on narcotics matters are limited because of the coordination function.

4. As the eyes and ears of the Ambassador, reporting to him directly or through the DCM, the coordinator should a) keep abreast of host government actions and attitudes and b) follow the narcotics program activities of all participating agencies at the Mission, including constituent posts. At the same time he serves as a resource asset to the other agencies, facilitating, where needed, upper level contacts with local government entities and officials, performing a political adviser role for them in order that they proceed with adequate knowledge of local political conditions affecting their activities, assisting in the resolution of any differences which arise between US agencies or between US agencies and host country counterparts. The Coordinator is also expected to bring to the attention of the Ambassador any problems which require his direct intervention to facilitate resolution in order to avoid serious delays in achieving US objectives. At those posts where we have a substantial program and hence a Narcotics Coordinator on a full-time basis, the Coordinator’s office should be located so as to assure as much as possible his ready availability to the principal agencies involved, such as DEA and AID.

5. The Coordinator should play a major role in the preparation of the Embassy’s annual country narcotics program submissions. This is not merely coordinating agency inputs into a single document. It is to assure that the program has been designed in an imaginative and informed way so that CCINC financial resources proposed, whether for training, enforcement, crop substitution, or prevention and treatment assistance, provide an adequate mix in the local context and strike an appropriate balance in terms of local or other resources committed to advance the international narcotics control program. After Washington decision on the particular country program, the Chief of Mission, relying upon the Coordinator, carries responsibility to assure that the envisaged program is implemented as rapidly as possible. The Coordinator must monitor it constantly and take immediate steps to spur action where possible in the case of delay, whether this occurs at the Washington or field. He must assure that the Department is kept regularly informed of program progress, developments affecting it, and notable accomplishments. Frequent reporting is called for from those countries in which substantial US narcotics program funds and personnel are being employed.

6. Narcotics control training is a high priority area in the international narcotics control program. As noted in State A-2665, we intend that it be done with increased selectivity in order to assure that the narcotics control capabilities of other nations be developed as fully as possible as a result of training we provide in the United States and abroad. The Coordinator should be fully conversant with the various types of training as described in A-2665 and, in cooperation with DEA and other appropriate Mission elements, play an active role both in the structuring of the recommendations for training and, to the extent this is feasible, in candidate selection.

7. We intend to provide a copy of this message to officers known to be en route to Narcotics Control Coordinator positions or positions involving that function among others. Addressees may wish to comment on it in the light of their experience.

8. Addressee posts are requested to inform the Department of the name of their narcotics coordinator.

Ingersoll

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified; Unrestricted. Drafted and approved by Ernst. Forwarded to 94 posts, and sent for information to USUN and Geneva. Printed from a repeated copy; the original was sent on May 22. Airgram A–2665, Department of State to selected posts, April 17, forwarded a Narcotic Training Assessment Questionnaire and instructed the Embassy Narcotics Officer to make host country authorities aware of opportunities for drug control training and cooperative initiatives.
2. The telegram clarified the duties of the Embassy Narcotics Officer position.