[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[41069]
No. 1.
October 1.]
SECTION 2.
139
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 1.)
(No. 3. Confidential.) Sir,
Saigon, September 2, 1912. WITH reference to my despatches No. 1 and 2, Confidential, of the 18th June and the 20th July last, I have the honour to inform you that the Director of Customs bere has unofficially advised the manager of Messrs. Denis Frères, a leading French firm, to enter into negotiations for the purchase of opium in Yünnan for sale to the Indo-China Government. The firm in question had recently put in an offer for the supply of several hundred chests of Indiau opium. This was refused at the time, but an assurance was given that before long a similar offer would be accepted; at the same time, the Director of Customs (whose department has the management of the opium régie) made the suggestion referred to above.
Messrs. Denis Frères, as a matter of fact, would prefer to do business in Indian opium only, and would like to see the import of Yunnan opium entirely ended. They do not intend, therefore, to act upon the suggestion given to them, and they have informed me confidentially of it, doubtless with the hope that the British Government will use its influence to prevent the export of opium from Yünnan. This idea has been largely fostered by an item of news which appeared in the weekly edition of the "Daily Mail" under date of, I think, the 19th July. This was shown to me, and stated, to the best of my recollection, that the British Government had protested to the Government of China against the export of opium from Yunnan to Indo-China. I have not, however, seen this news in any other paper.
It appears that at the present moment the price and the quality of the Yinnun opium are such that it is less advantageous for the administration to import it than Indian opium. The inhabitants of Tonquin and Annam have, however, now got accustomed to it, and prefer it to the Indian drug; the Government wishes, therefore, to be in a position to accommodate them. That, at all events, is the explanation I have received as to the apparent desire to continue the import from Yunnan. Personally, I am inclined to think that there may be a further reason, namely, the wish to encourage any trade which may increase the material prosperity of Yüunan and so augment its purchasing power.
At the present moment the administration has in stock about 900 chests of raw Indian opium; none has been purchased since December 1911. I do not know what stock, if any, they hold of Yunnan opium. The quantity required annually for Freuch Indo-China is now estimated at 1,800 chests, of which 1,200 are for Cochin-China and Cambodia, and 600 chests for Tonquin and Annam. The Yunnan opium would probably go only to Tonquin and Annam.
I have, &c.
T. FF. CARLISLE.
dia
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