(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
со
30132
RECS
R$ 15 SEP 11 [June 29.1
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[25248]
No. 1.
SEOTION 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office to Messrs. E. D. Sassoon.
Foreign Office, June 29, 1911.
I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you that on the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, stating that a tax amounting to 400 taels per chest, as well as restrictions were about to be revived at Canton, a telegram was at once addressed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking enquiring as to the accuracy of the report.
A reply has now been received to the effect that the information is incorrect. It appears that the Chinese authorities are considering the means of taxing prepared opium, but in such a way as not to infringe the agreement of the 8th May, and Sir J. Jordan adds that in any case raw opium and the wholesale trade will not be affected.
[2066 ƒ-1]
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL,
482