Authorship of this document was determined by searching for the Bates number immediately prior to the first page of this document (2500050402). This search returned a memo which was attached to a draft speech presenting a "balanced corporate view on the various smoking issues." The author of the memo (and subsequent speech) was determined to be Lee Pollak. Recipient was determined in the same manner.
In this draft speech, Lee Pollok (Executive Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Philip Morris International) infers that cigarette smoking aids society's overall mental health by reducing stress:
"As we observe the world today, we note that many of society's problems result from the state of our mental health or, putting it more simply, the mere difficulty of coping... Although I do not mean to suggest that cigarette smoking is any panacea for these problems, does it really make sense to bear down relentlessly on those who choose to relieve the daily stress of life through smoking?"
Pollok also claims that the public health issues around tobacco are "exaggerated," and proceeds to minimize the toll that tobacco takes on human life (and works off an assumption that he himself is unsure of):
"Nor does it help to exaggerate the public health issues involved. If today science were to develop a preventative or cure which would completely eliminate lung cancer, life expectancy would be increased by less than three months. [This fact -- as well as all others -- must be checked.]"
He also disputes the increased medical costs tobacco causes society, and infers that lung cancer is merely a disease of old age:
"And as one recognizes that lung cancer is a disease of older age and that non-smokers also collect social security and incur medical expenses, one recognizes the absurdity of the contention that smoking results in a financial cost to society."
The document also touches on the subjects of advertising bans, the absence of health warnings on packs destined for export, ingredients, public smoking and secondhand smoke. It ends with an unusual invitation for public health advocates to apply to work at Philip Morris, suggesting they could put their ingenuity to work selling Miracle Whip or Crystal Light:
"We never cease to be amazed with the ability of the anti-tobacco activists to come up with something new...We could certainly use such ingenuity at Philip Morris and let me say here and now, we would be glad to receive the resumes of members of the anti-tobacco movement after they become bored with the cigarette and health controversy. Who knows? If they still have a problem with Merit or Parliament, perhaps we could give them a go with Crystal Light or Miracle Whip."