406
Government entered upon that repressive policy towards the foreign spirit trade which has been so frequently alluded to in the correspondence between the Foreign and Colonial Offices. The farmers of the spirit revenue in Siam refused to allow spirits to be landed at any port except Bangkok, charged increased and illegal import duties; and in other ways harassed and molested the spirit merchants. This policy has had a most prejudicial effect upon the spirit trade with Bangkok. It is estimated that the amount annually exported has fallen from 500,000 jars to at most 100,000 jars, notwithstanding the fact that "freight has fallen from 10 cents to 4 cents per jar. Those best qualified to judge are indeed of opinion that under existing circumstances this once flourishing trade is now practically extinct.
6.
It remains to be considered what effect the imposition