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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[342]
No. 1.
[January 3.]
SECTION 2.
122
Messrs. E. D. and Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.(Received January 3.)
Sir,
17, St. Helen's Place, London, January 2, 1913.
WE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 31st December, and beg to refer to our letter of same date, handing you copies of telegrams from Shanghai and Hong Kong.
We have since received the following telegrams from China :-
From Shanghai
"Opium prohibition, Shanghai city and districts outside foreign settlements, came in force yesterday. All retail shops were closed, and wholesale dealers who are our clients were warned that any dealing or possession of opium will result in severe punishment. Consequently, all stocks were transferred to the foreign settlement."
From Hong Kong:-
"Canton not renewed smokers' licences. Smoking strictly prohibited. opium treaty to be denounced.'
F
Reported
These clearly show that the position is daily getting more acute, and we can only again urge most strongly that His Majesty's Government should take steps to immediately relieve the existing tension.
[2766 c-2]
We have, &c.
É. D. SASSOON AND Co. DAVID SASSOON AND CO. (Limited).