their Government may require. We are quite willing to put an end to our trade in opium and stop further purchases and consequently we respectfully request you to stop further sales of Bengal (opium) in Calentta and the export right of Malwa (opium) in Bombay. This will put an end to all friction and conflicting interests and will secure earliest possible cessation of shipments of opium to China which the British Government so sincerely desire? May we add merchants signing this appeal to Government represent their branches not only in Bombay but also in Calcutta and China. We beg His Excellency the Viceroy to cable the terms of our telegram to the Secretary of State for India so that negotiations way be promptly entered into with the Chinese Government and a grave financial crisis averted."
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