[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O.
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL
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37169
RECR
[October 23.]
REG 25 NOV 12:
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Come
(No. 297.) Sir,
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
Foreign Office, October 23, 1912.
I HAVE received your despatch No. 372 of the 14th ultimo on the subject of the opium trade in Macao.
In reply, I have to inform you that I instructed His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Lisbon on the 28th June last to urge the Portuguese Government to fix the maximum amount of opium that might be imported annually into Macao and to undertake to enforce the restriction. It was pointed out that it was estimated by competent authorities that the legitimate requirements of the colony did not exceed 440 chests per annum.
If the Portuguese Government fixed a limit for the import of opium, the Government of India had expressed their readiness to restrict the export to Macao to a like extent.
The Portuguese Government have since that date been urged repeatedly to return an early reply to these representations.
In the meantime, a copy of your despatch under reply has been sent to His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon for his information and also to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
idia
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I am, &c.
E. GREY.
Ted