[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
567
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29288]
No. 1.
DEGE O AUG 12 [July 10.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Messrs. E. D. and Messrs. David Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.--(Received July 10.)
17, St. Helen's Place, London, July 9, 1912. WE had the honour to address you last on the 28th ultimo on the subject of the opium question, and we now beg to bring to your notice the following telegram just received from our Shanghai house:—
"We have telegraphed to Peking Minister as follows :---
"Information has been received from Kiukiang monopoly established Kiangsi. Opium not allowed in interior provinces. Kiukiang merchants asking for cancellation of their opium contracts if the Central Government is unable to enforce observance of treaty. We respectfully submit that it is the duty of British Government to enforce same. Prompt measures must be taken, otherwise defiance Chekiang and Kiangsi will be followed by other provinces.'
While China is imposing restriction after restriction upon the trade in Indian opium, she is now allowing native opium to be exported from one province to another. Is this the measure of China's earnestness to suppress the opium habit?
On the 23rd May we had the honour to point out to you the extensive smuggling of uncertificated opium into China from Macao. We informed you that large quantities were shipped direct from Calcutta to that port far in excess of local requirements, which are at most 200 chests yearly. In support of this latter statement we beg to send herewith the IM. Customs Returns of Trade of 1909, part 2, vol. IV (southern
you coast ports), and would ask your attention to pp. 643 and 644.
We have received pressing telegrams from Hong Kong and Bombay urging on behalf of merchants interested in the opium trade that, if the Government of India finds it impossible, owing to the three months' notice required, to suspend sales of Bengal and Malwa opium this year, sales should be suspended next year until the restrictions complained of have been removed. We beg that this may be pressed upon the Indian Government.
We have, &c.
E. D. SASSOON AND Co. DAVID SASSOON AND Co. (Limited).
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