[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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7235
Pro 6 MAR
[February 18.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received February 18.)
India Office, February 17, 1911. IN continuation of my letter of the 2nd February regarding the representations made by Indian opium importers at Shanghai against the sale of 16,000 chests of opium for non-Chinese markets, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward, for Sir F. Grey's information, a copy of telegraphic correspondence, from which it will be seen that Lord Crewe has approved the Government of India's action in refusing to reduce at present the mumber of chests of Bengal "uncertificated " opium to be sold this year.
I am, &c.
R. RITCHIE.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Government of India to the Earl of Crewe.
(Telegraphic.) P.
January 31, 1911. SIR J. JORDAN'S telegram to Foreign Office of the 28th instant: Opium. For the purpose of opium certificates, we would not count Hong Kong as a Chinese port.
Merchants here are anxious that the number of chests sold for non-Chinese market should be reduced. That number, 16,000, represented the average consumption outside China before 1908, but it appears from recent statistics that some of the chests are now diverted to China, and smuggling from Hong Kong or Singapore is not unlikely to result if under the new procedure treaty ports are ultimately closed to uncertified opium. But China must deal with this contingency if, and when, it arises. Meanwhile, we are strongly against any reduction by more than the agreed annual amount of our total sales and exports. The reduction, after due notice, of the non- Chinese supply may be a useful diplomatic weapon to keep in reserve for use, if it is absolutely necessary, in securing the conclusion of a satisfactory (? agreement) with the Chinese Government. Apart from this, we would rather refuse any concession in this direction until an agreement has been concluded, and for the present we are returning a negative answer to the requests for reduction that are being made by our merchants.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
The Earl of Crewe to Government of India.
(Telegraphic.) P.
India Office. February 14, 1911. YOUR telegram of the 31st ultimo: Sale of opiura for non-Chinese markets. I approve your refusal to reduce the number of chests below 16,000.
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