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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government56
REC
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Rea 27 JANIS
[December 31.]
SECTION 1.
[87015]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 338.) Šir,
Foreign Office, December 31, 1914.
I HAVE received your despatches No. 300 of the 17th August and No. 345 of the 29th September last respecting the licences for the sale of opium in shops in the International Settlement in Shanghai.
His Majesty's Government have learnt with regret of the unwillingness of the Municipal Council to give their assistance in putting an end to the opium evil.
I should be glad, in view of Mr. Pearce's anticipation that the stocks in Shanghai will last for two and a half years, if you would, should you see no objection, warn the Council, in whatever manner you may consider best, that the stocks of opium in bond will automatically be sealed as soon as the last provinces have been declared free of cultivation under the provisions of the Opium Agreement, and that the Chinese Government will doubtless also hold that opium shops in the Settlement should be immediately closed at the same time.
I have also to inform you, for your own information, that His Majesty's Government would be willing, should the province not be declared clean during the early part of 1915, to consider any measures which you may suggest for securing a genuine and considerable reduction in the number of licences.
I am, &c.
[2320 hh-1]
E. GREY.