CONFIDENTIAL.
3353
te?
of 2 EB ||
246
(No. 24.)
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received January 28.)
FOLLOWING is repetition of telegram from British consul-general at Shanghai,
Peking, January 28, 1911. 27th January: ---
'(No. 12.)
65
Following received from counsel, David Sassoon, and other Indian opium importers :-
"Government of India proposal to sell 15,440 chests of opium, with permit for export to China, out of the 31,440 chests of opium to be sold this year. Principal British importers here protest that, as 16,000 chests of opium are far beyond possible consumption in non-Chinese [? countries], this will fetch less at auction, and smuggling result will be disastrous, probably to the detriment of trade. Add that they are not clear whether or not Government of India regards Hong Kong as Chinese port for this purpose, and they beg that Government of India be apprised by telegraph, as it was recently by Government of Hong Kong at request of opium merchants in colony of their objection to sale to non-Chinese ports being in excess of legitimate requirements.''
(Repeated to India,)
[152-152]