336. Editorial Note

Circular telegram CW–7653, March 28, 1962, set forth the U.S. position on the Single Convention as follows: “The Mission is instructed, at its discretion, to inform the host government that after a thorough study of the document, this Government has concluded it should not seek ratification of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It believes the [Page 739] Convention in its present form contains defects which are material and important, and which, if the Convention were to come into legal effect, would seriously weaken the control and restrictive systems which presently govern the production and distribution of narcotic drugs. In its opinion, one of the harmful results would be an increase in the illegal traffic in narcotic drugs, and a compounding of the world problem of law enforcement in the narcotics field.” The rest of the telegram provided background information and guidance to diplomatic missions. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 341.9/3–2862)