[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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27094
598
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29046]
No. 1.
[August 10.]
SECTION 1.
Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. and Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.--
(Received August 10.)
Sir,
9, Fenchurch Avenue, London, August 9, 1910. WE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated the 6th instant, in regard to the additional taxation on opium imposed by the Chinese authorities in Kuantung, and we hope that the discussions mentioned will lead to a speedy and satisfactory result. In the meantime, we learn to-day by cable from Hong Kong that further seizures have been made in the Canton delta of balls of raw opium, and even of a whole chest, for attempted evasion of an illegal tax. We further learn that the Governor of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, the China Association, and the banks have sent a strong protest to Peking, the banks co-operating because they fear that serious financial difficulties will arise if the present state of affairs is not soon ended. We trust His Majesty's Government have instructed His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking that if a settlement is to be made it must be made speedily, or it will be too late to repair the inischief already done.
We have, &c.
E. D. SASSOON AND Co. DAVID SASSOON AND Co.
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