BOX 1 

1. Philip Morris Marketing Meeting - Mexico 1986, BAT 2500021445 - 491. (Discussion of the positioning of the various brands; sniping at BAT.)

2. Philip Morris Asia, Region Overview - March 1990, BAT 2500026331 - 425.

   (Marketing studies for Asia with details on Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea - pays attention to proportion of starters, current and quitters; brands, brand switching, market segmentation and brand profiles, etc.)

   Notable quotes: "Advertising and promotions should be aimed at entry level smokers to keep the franchise young and dynamic." "Young adult promotions could help us build the king size franchise among entry level smokers.... Parliament Menthol could be a line extension to broaden appeal to younger smokers and women...." "[Merit Lights is] a brand for the health conscious and those who have just started smoking." In Hong Kong, "average daily consumption is quite low, under 18 sticks per day."

3. Tobacco Industry Council Position Papers - 1990 Initialled by MGBR/ach, BAT 700314463 - 470.

   (Classic defensive positions on addiction, advertising and sponsorship, ETS, health warnings and constituent labelling, smoking and health, taxation, sales of "illegal leaf"in Zimbabwe.)
   Notable quotes: "One can find people ‘addicted’ to watching television...eating chocolate, jogging.... Tobacco use does not increase the smoker’s dependence on the product.... Cessation of smoking does not produce detrimental withdrawal symptoms. Most people experience little difficulty in giving up." "Advertising bans do not reduce consumption.... Advertising is aimed at the smoker in order to keep the smoker loyal...or to persuade him or her to switch from another brand.... Tobacco sponsorship emanates from the industry’s wish to return a benefit to the community where they do business." "There is NO threat to health [from ETS"]." "Cigarette smoking has not been proved to be harmful to health...."

4. Guidelines for Interviews With the Media - no date, BAT 700315123 - 125.

   Notable quotes: "Take every opportunity to emphasize the following points: - the tobacco industry’s deep concern regarding the questions raised about smoking and health and its extensive funding of research to resolve these questions.... [etc.]" "Avoid flat assertions about smoking and health. It has not been scientifically proven that smoking causes disease." "Avoid safety claims.... Avoid discussion of ‘moderation’.... Do not refer to addiction...."

5. Handwritten notes, unsigned, on all aspects of cigarette manufacture, ETS, consumer research, nicotine research, tobacco modification - no date, BAT 600272001 - 118.

   (Difficult to read in places, elliptical phrasing.

6. BAT Research and Development Centre, Southampton, research report - 18 February 1988

   BAT 402380824 - 833.

   ("Ames mutagenic activity of mainstream smoke condensate: A comparison of selected U.S. and European commercial cigarettes." Compares by relative specific mutagenic activity Capri brand to others, finds scant difference. Chart gives absolute averages of mutants per plate against dosage of condensate.)

7. "Notes on a special meeting of the UK Industry on Environmental Tobacco Smoke, London" - 17 February 1988. Dr. Sharon Boyse, author of memo, BAT 301150179 - 184.

   (Presentation of a global strategy of Philip Morris to recruit scientists "to keep the controversy alive." At the meeting were representatives of Rothmans, Philip Morris, Imperial, Gallaher, BAT, Covington Burling USA, Bioassay Ltd.)

   Notable quotes: "Philip Morris presented to the UK industry their global strategy on environmental tobacco smoke. In every major international area (USA, Europe, Australia, Far East, South America, Central America & Spain) they are proposing, in key countries, to set up a team of scientists organized by one national coordinating scientist and American lawyers, to review scientific literature or carry out work on ETS to keep the controversy alive. [NB. "Keep the controversy alive" is industry jargon for casting doubt on any evidence indicating that ETS is in any way harmful.] They are spending vast sums of money.... A list of potential scientists who could be contacted in the UK was produced. Because of the heavy financial burden, Philip Morris are inviting other companies to join them in these activities.... The Philip Morris philosophy of ETS was presented. This appeared to revolve around the selection, in all possible countries, of a group of scientists either to critically review the scientific literature on ETS to maintain controversy, or to carry out research on ETS.... The mechanism by which they identify their consultants is as follows: - they ask a couple of scientists in each country (Francis Roe and George Leslie in the UK) to produce a list of potential consultants. The scientists are then contacted by these coordinators or by the lawyers and asked if they are interested in problems of Indoor Air Quality: tobacco is not mentioned at this stage. CVs are obtained and obvious ‘anti-smokers’ or those with ‘unsuitable backgrounds’ are filtered out. The remaining scientists are sent a literature pack containing approximately 10 hours reading matter and including ‘anti-ETS’ articles. They are asked for a genuine opinion as independent consultants, and if they indicate an interest in proceeding further a Philip Morris scientist makes contact. Philip Morris then expect the group of scientists to operate within the confines of decisions taken by PM scientists to determine the general direction of research, which apparently would then be ‘filtered’ by lawyers to eliminate areas of sensitivity. Their idea is that the groups of scientists should be able to produce research or stimulate controversy in such a way that public affairs people in the relevant countries would be able to make use of, or market, the information. The scientists would not necessarily be expected to act as spokesmen for the industry, but could be if they were prepared to do so. Because of the heavy financial burden, Philip Morris are inviting other companies to join them in these activities...."

   (A list of potential consultants for UK is given.)

   (Boyse carefully puts some distance between herself and PM, criticizing the "excessive involvement of lawyers" as such an approach may frighten off some scientists.)

8. "Smoking and Health" - draft position paper by RLOE/CT - 30 May 1986, BAT 109938428 - 432.

   (Standard BAT responses to questions on the subject.

   Notable quotes: "Smoking has not been shown to be a cause of disease - nor has it been shown that smoking does not cause disease.... Nevertheless, the possible effect on health cannot be ignored and the Company does not seek to do so.... To date only scientifical [sic] evidence has been produced linking tobacco with ill health.... No physiological proof has ever been found."

   [In a hand-written note:] "Many people state that smoking cigarettes helps them to cope with the problems of everyday life."

9. "Report on a pilot study of techniques of measuring smoking amongst young people" - August 1976. Prepared by Research Surveys of Great Britain Limited for Dr. A. McKennell, Tobacco Research Council, BAT 100288228 - 253.

   (Interviews of students at home and school, grammar and secondary schools. Pilot study interviewed 198 students, ages 11-16, boys and girls. 8/34 boys and 1/15 girls, 11-13 smoked; 5/25 boys and 2/10 girls 14-16 smoked.

   Notable quotes: "Would you say that there is too much or too little fuss made about the dangers of smoking or is it about right?" [asked of head teachers:] "Do you think children should be discouraged from smoking?"

10. "The Extent of Health Hazard Reduction in the First Generation of Implicitly ‘Safer’ Cigarettes." 15 November 1973, G.F. Todd, BAT 100301333 - 334.

    (Todd was Director of the Tobacco Research Council, an industry spin-off like the US Tobacco Institute. The document essentially acknowledges the carcinogenic effect of cigarettes.)

    Notable quote: "Courtaulds [Planet cigarettes] claim to have made a 50% reduction in carcinogenicity in the cellulose that constitutes 50% of the cigarette. This means a reduction in hazard of 25%. When account is taken of the cumulative effects of past smoking, a reduction in hazard of only 25% is going to take a long time to have a material effect on the death rates of smokers." Todd suggests that more complete combustion would substantially decrease higher polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. "Since this may be the most effective way of bring about large reductions in the risk of lung cancer, sooner or later the pressure to change the conditions of combustion may become very strong."

11. "Some personal comments on the report on Prediction (L 117-8)" and "Predicting Liability of death from major cardio-respiratory disease." G.F. Todd, and G.F. Todd and D.D. Reid - January 1973, BAT 100209600 - 603, and 100209604 - 664.

    (Uses data from the British Civil Service Health Survey Follow Up, December 1967 to May 1972 to determine predictability of death (predictive ratios) by respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms, clinical measurements, and smoking habits.)

    Notable quotes: "At last we seem to have an authoritative report on the significance of cigarette smoking for predicting death.... [predictive ratios] Myocardial infarction 2.7 Chronic bronchitis 7.7 Lung cancer 32.2.... it would be very unlikely that a large predictive value did not include a large causal element." "Heavy cigarette smoking [20+ a day] is the most powerful predictor of death from lung cancer."

12. "Extracts from a record of discussions in U.S.A. and Canada by The Director" - November, December 1971, G.F. Todd, BAT 100249579 - 627.

    (Tobacco Research Council visits to Tobacco Institute, Council for Tobacco Research (CTR), National Cancer Institute and Tobacco Working Group, American Cancer Society, American Health Foundation (E.L. Wynder) , Daniel Horn, Prof. J. Yerushalmy at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute - broad range of topics.)

    Notable quotes: "There was confidence that CTR would not be primarily a public relations tool, tacitly admitting that this was what it had been previously. On the other hand, there was equal confidence that in future CTR research would be steered clear of any embarrassing connection with smoking as a cause of disease."

13. "Independent scientific committee on smoking and health. Proposed outline of the third report." Unsigned, undated, BAT 100312583 - 585.

    (Appears to be a consultant group memo to the industry, advising on future makeup of cigarettes.)

    Notable quotes: "Reduction in ‘tar’ yields. a. The evidence from epidemiological studies indicates that over the last 10 years the reduction in ‘tar’ delivery of cigarettes has been the major factor in the decrease of lung cancer among men.... But, given the present level of the disease and the sharp rise in prevalence among women (who, on the whole, came to the smoking habit later than men) the case for recommending tar levels which will reinforce the trend in men, and set what is probably a reasonably safe level, is overwhelming.... It is as important to achieve a reduction in the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity content of the various constituents of tar as it is to continue to reduce the overall tar yield." "As a purveyor of a product which is accepted as prima facie harmful to health, the industry may wish to carry out this [research] work to further demonstrate its regard for the health of its customers."

14. "Nicotine" and "Compensation for changed delivery" - Brief summaries of presentations at the "Winchester Seminar" 14 November and 12 November 1975 - sent from P.H. Gannaway, Esq. R & D Department, Millbank to Dr. R.E. Thornton. "Nicotine" is unattributed, "compensation" is by DEC (D.E. Creighton). A 1978 document with the same title as the latter written by Creighton was cited in Hurt RD and Robertson CR ("Prying open the door to the tobacco industry’s secrets about nicotine. The Minnesota tobacco trial." JAMA 1998; 280: 1173-1181),

    BAT 100028023 - 025.

    Notable quotes: "For a majority of smokers, nicotine is the reinforcing agent in smoking."

    "It has been shown that when many smokers are changed to a brand of cigarettes with lower nicotine delivery they are able to draw approximately similar amounts of nicotine to their usual brand by working harder."

15. "Added ammonium salts in Marlboro and Philip Morris Cigarettes." - two memos from C.J. Rosene of the Research Department dated 30 July 1969 and 8 September 1969,

    BAT 100025331 - 334.

    (A reverse engineering study showing considerably higher levels of both ammonium salt and phosphate in four PM brands, compared to B&W brands. The date of the study is several years earlier than others cited by Hurt and Robertson.)

    Notable quotes: "Although it is difficult to speculate the reasons for applying ammonium salts to tobacco, these compounds may contribute to physiological impact if free ammonia is released into the smoke.... We recommend that the effect of ammonium salts on B&W brands be studied."

16. "Tar and nicotine maximums - Middle East." Trip report by Dr. T. Hirji to Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, and Bahrein, June and July 1993, BAT 700430825 - 843.

    (A run up to the GCC states - the above plus Qatar, UAE and Oman - resolution to import reduced tar and nicotine, from 12/0.8 to 10/0.6.)

17. "Public Affairs Review 1993. Europe," BAT 700324409 - 492.

    (Country by country responses to a survey from BAT representatives for Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Survey covered marketing freedoms, ETS, excise, government relations, media relations, corporate image, competition, recruitment and training, internal communications, measuring effectiveness.)

    Notable quotes: "Belgium, Finland and Switzerland are the only companies that have developed a government relations strategy." "Belgium emphasize that [government] relations produce the best results when they are conducted in private, away from the public gaze." "Government relations is conducted almost exclusively through the NMA in France and the Netherlands."

    "The Netherlands is involved in local community youth work." "The Netherlands highlights differences between the company’s PA activities and that of its competitors. Whilst BAT’s efforts are local, PM and Rothmans put in far more human and budgetary resources on a European (regional) basis." "Switzerland emphasized that smoking and health is its dominant issue."

18. "Presentation by CEO Barry Bramley to BAT Industries’ international tobacco conference, Budapest - May 1992," titled, "The World Cigarette Market and BAT," BAT 700324698 - 753.

    (A corporate report, comparing BAT, and BAT’s brands, to other companies, noting the opportunities for growth in former Soviet Union and Far East. Significant growth of low price market segment in USA, Malaysia, and Australia.)

    Notable quotes: "Wherever it is agriculturally feasible, BAT encourages the development of tobacco growing by independent farmers by providing seed, fertilisers, and technical farming advice. BAT provides advice and assistance to over 500,000 small farmers from whom it purchases tobacco every year." [hand crossed-out]: "BAT’s agricultural expertise is frequently used to advantage in joint development projects with governments and other agencies." "Within this competitive industry the issue of taste and flavour is paramount if we are to gain a lead over our competitors - particularly in the low and ultra low delivery sectors of the market. BAT has been at the forefront in researching new processes and products and as an example I will mention two. The Actron Filter has been the reason for the success of Barclay with its novel filter ventilation concept, [hand crossed-out:] which has a beneficial effect on the sensory properties of the smoke." "The attacks from the industry’s opponents now focus on making smoking socially unacceptable, the removal of the industry’s right to market its products and making cigarettes unaffordable by consumers as a result of excessive taxation. It is vital that smokers remain free to use our products and every effort must be made to ensure that this happens. We must also fight to protect the company’s right to market its products by promoting freedom of choice and freedom of commercial speech.... Recently we have had successes in [hand crossed- out:] persuading governments to change changing excise systems and we have been instrumental in securing a postponement until the end of the decade of the abolition of inter-EEC duty free. Industry as a whole is now under the microscope of environmentally conscious individuals,, organisations and ultimately, Governments.... the zealous manner in which green goals are pursued is definitely cause for concern."

19. P.T. Bat Indonesia, and Singapore Tobacco Company (PTE) LTD - June and July 1988

    BAT 700324813 - 818 and 700324842 - 847. KS prepared the Indonesia report, CFC the Singapore. (Excerpts from a corporate status report on Asia.)

    Notable quotes: [In Indonesia] "smoking is still considered as common as breathing and eating. Only in recent years a rather serious and vocal issue strongly blew up...to execute a national program in smoking and health. This action was actually a reaction triggered by an advertising campaign launched by one of the giant kretek manufacturer BENTOEL for its new product called ‘Bentoel Ramaja" it was featuring a group of teenagers (schoolboys and girls) on motorbikes smoking Bentoel Ramaja with its theme ‘The choice of Indonesian teenagers 1987’.... Economists were among those who defended the tobacco industry.... On the other hand, doctors and those who are against smoking habits spoke more with emotions, without sufficient data from any professional study or research to back up their claims. This weakness was said to be the main reason why they failed to influence public opinion which could put stronger pressure to the Government. The important thing to be noted on the first committee efforts was that they were successful in forcing Bentoel Ramaja posters out of circulation by calling for the media back up not to accept such unethical ads." "Sooner or later the restrictions will come, it is only a matter of time." [By contrast, in Singapore] "International anti-smoking organisations, particularly the WHO, appear to have a strong influence over Singapore Government policy.... As a Government controlled activity, the anti-smoking campaign constitutes one of the most aggressive attempts to curb the habit in the world."

20. Letter from G.F. Todd, Director of the Tobacco Research Council to G.M.G. Tibbs, Secretary of the Royal College of Physicians- 21 May 1970, BAT 100177743.

    (Asks the College to support recommendation for research into a safer cigarette - "product modification".)