I have therefore the honour to request that your Excellency will as soon as possible issue strict instructions to the local authorities in Wui Chow and Chui Chow and other outlying prefectures directing them to carry out the Licensing Regulations in such a manner as will not interfere with the wholesale trade between British merchants in Hong Kong and the Chinese dealers in raw opium.
65
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.C. O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[45338]
I avail, &c.
(Signed)
HARRY H. FOX.
Sir,
No. 1.
1545
[December 28:]
14 JA. 90
SECTION 1.
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received December 28.)
Downing Street, December 26, 1908. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 9th instant, I am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir E. Grey, copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, on the subject of the steps taken in the Commonwealth to prohibit the importation of opium, together with a copy of a letter which has been addressed to Sir C. Clementi Smith, on the matter after unofficial communication with your Department.
2. Lord Crewe will be glad if instructions can be sent by telegraph to the Consul- General at Shanghae to hand the copies of the Memorandum sent to him to Sir C. Smith.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
H. W. JUST.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Governor-General the Eurl of Dudley to the Earl of Crewe.
My Lord,
Melbourne, November 2, 1908. IN continuation of my cablegram of the 15th ultimo, relative to the Opiuni Commission to be held in Shanghae in January next, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to me by His Majesty's Prime Minister of the Commonwealth on the subject, together with the inclosures referred to therein.
I have, &c. (Signed)
DUDLEY.
My Lord,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Mr. Deakin to Governor-General the Earl of Dudley.
Prime Minister, Melbourne, October 31, 1908. IN continuation of my letter of the 14th October, relative to the meeting of the Opium Commission to be held at Shanghae in January next, I have the honour to invite your Excellency to be so good as to forward to the Secretary of State for the Colonies the attached copies (two) of a Memorandum prepared by the Department of Trade and Customs, showing what has been done in Australia with regard to the prohibition of the importation of smoking opium. It may be mentioned that copies of that Memorandum have been forwarded to His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae for submission to the Commission.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ALFRED DEAKIN
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Memorandum respecting the Prohibition of the Importation of Opium for Smoking Purposes.
(a.) The Prohibition.
IN the middle of the year 1905 the question of the prohibition of the importation of opium for smoking purposes engaged the serious attention of the Government and
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