LETTER TO MR. B. BROOKS THOMAS FROM LAWRENCE R. HOUSTON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000300230073-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2005
• Sequence Number: 73
• Publication Date: July 5, 1972
• Content Type: LETTER

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CENTRAL 1N - Lq LYGENCE AGENCY
5 July 19 7 2
Mr. B. Brooks Thomas
Vice President & General Counsel
Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc.
10 East 53d Street
New York, New York 10022
Mr. Cord Meyer has asked me to respond to your letter
to him of June 30th in connection with the book, THE POLITICS
OF HEROIN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, by Alfred W. McCoy.
As you are no doubt aware, Mr. McCoy testified on 2 June
1972 before the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Senate
Appropriations Committee. His testimony included allegations
concerning support of the international opium traffic by U. S.
agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, and numerous
other allegations concerning participation in the opium traffic by
both Americans and local personnel in Southeast Asia.
In the light of the pernicious nature of the drug traffic,
allegations concerning involvement of the U. S. Government therein
or the participation of American citizens should be made only if
based on hard evidence. It is our belief that no reputable publishing
house would wish to publish such allegations without being assured
that the supporting evidence was valid. It was on this basis that
Mr. Meyer talked to Mr. Canfield and Mr. Wyeth. It is Mr.
Meyer's understanding that they agreed with this position and,
therefore, said that a copy of the galley proofs would be made
available to us. If this were done, we believe we could demon-
strate to you that a considerable number of Mr. McCoy's claims
about this Agency's alleged involvement are totally false and without
foundation, a number are distorted beyond recognition, and none
is based on convincing evidence. We are not alone in this position
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as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs also considers
Mr. McCoy's claims to be essentially based on rumor or
hearsay.
Mr. Nelson Gross, the Secretary of State's Senior
Advisor and Coordinator for international Narcotics Matters,
wrote on. 8 June 1972 to Senator Proxmire, the Chairman of the
Subcommittee before which Mr. McCoy appeared, and refuted
a number of Mr. McCoy's major allegations. in testimony before
an informal congressional panel of U. S. Representatives in New
York City on 9 June 1972, Mr. Cross again refuted allegations
made by Mr. McCoy but in more detail.
Ordinarily this Agency does not respond to public criticisrn.
However, in this case we are under the strongest directives to
support the U. S. Government's effort against the international
narcotics traffic and are bending every effort to do so. We believe
we cannot stand by and see baseless criticism designed to under-
mine confidence in that effort without trying to set the record
straight. This, of course, in no way affects the right of a
publisher to decide what to publish. I find it difficult to believe,
however, that a responsible publisher would wish to be associated
with an attack on our Government involving the vicious international
drug traffic without at least trying to ascertain the facts.
I trust I have made quite clear our reason for asking to
see the text of Mr. McCoy's book prior to publication and have
also given you reason to consider your own responsibilities in
this matter.
Sincerely,
Lawrence R. Houston
General Counsel
STATOTHR
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iP
B. Brooks Thomas
Vice President &
General Counsel
Harper. & Row, Publishers, Inc,
10 East 53d Street, New York,. New York. 10022
June 30, 1972
Cord Meyer, Jr.
1523 34th Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20007
Dear Mr. Meyer:
I understand from Messrs. Canfield, Sr. and
Wyeth that you have expressed an interest in being shown
the manuscript of our forthcoming book, THE POLITICS
OF HEROIN, by Alfred W. McCoy.
Before making any determination with respect to
your request, I would appreciate it if you would confirm it
to me in writing, indicating to the extent you deem appro-
priate any reasons you may have for making such a request.
Sincerely,
BBT:jc
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