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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O
10038
OPIUM.
RECO
ed 16 JUN IT
CONFIDENTIAL.
[May 11.]
SECTION 6.
[18497]
No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, May 11, 1911.
Mr. Theodore C. Taylor,-To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is intended under the new opium agreement with China that, in addition to the 30,600 chests to be sent under the former arrangement, she should this year take not only 21,000 chests additional, but a certain quantity also of uncertificated opium during the next two months, and is there any limit to the quantity she will be thus obliged to take, and, if so, what limit.
Answer by Mr. Montagu,
The agreement provides for the entry into China within two months of date of signature of uncertificated Indian opinm over and above the listed stock of such opiun lying in treaty ports or in Hong Kong. All such opium was sold and purchased with the knowledge that it had a right of entry into China. The quantity is not definitely known, but is believed not to be large. Whatever the quantity may be, a corre- sponding reduction will be made in the certified exports of Indian opium in 1912-14.
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