[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[February 6]
SECTION 1.
[5655]
No. 1.
Mr. Stronge to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 6,)
(No. 17.) Šir,
Mexico, January 22, 1913. WITH reference to my telegram No. 2 of the 14th instant, on the subject of the opium requirements of this Republic, I have the honour to report that it appears impossible to obtain a categorical reply from the Mexican Government on this question, although I have repeatedly applied for one, explaining with the utmost precision the desires and aims of His Majesty's Government in making the request.
I beg to enclose herewith translation of a note from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, dated the 13th instant, giving the quantities imported during the six years from 1906-7 to 1911-12 inclusive, and the value of the same as shown on the consular invoices.
The note also contains a communication from the Superior Board of Health, enclosing a report from the Commission of Retail Chemists suggesting that the importation of opium for smoking purposes should be prohibited, which suggestion is stated to be under the consideration of the Ministry of Finance.
I have just received a further note from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, dated the 20th instant, which states that the legal or legitimate consumption of opium in the country may be estimated to amount approximately to 6,180 kilog. per annum.
I have to-day telegraphed to you this information as being the only reply which the Mexican Government appear able to make respecting the annual requirements of the country with regard to this drug.
I have, &c.
FRANCIS STRONGE
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mexican Department of Finance to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, Mexico,
I HAVE the honour to reply to your notes, Nos. 3549 and 3551, dated the 12th November last, from the Chancery Department, in which you transcribe the notes, Nos. 198 and 202, from His Britannic Majesty's Minister concerning the export of opium from Macao and Hong Kong respectively to Mexico, and to inform you that, with regard to the date relative to importation, it should be observed that section 135 of the customs tariff includes opium and its extracts, without making any distinction between them, probably on account of the difficulty of distinguishing the medicinal extract from opium prepared for smoking, unless a regular technical study were made for the classification. Thus, then, the quantities imported have been as follows:-
1906-7
1907-8
1908-9
1909-10
1910-11
1011-12
Year.
Weight.
Value.
kilog
doll.
6,055
97,804
5,165
98,841
4,869
88,098
9,286
800,504
12,894
585,748
9,269
388,522
·
It should be observed that the values given are those obtained from the consular invoices drawn up by the shippers. On this subject I think it desirable to inform the Ministry under your charge concerning a note dated the 11th of December last,
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