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[CONFIDENTIAL.]
Copy of a letter from Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, SHANGHAI.
Messrs. ALFRED HOLT & Co.,
6th March, 1916.
331
LIVERPOOL.
Dear Sira,
OPIUM SMUGGLING.
We are in receipt of with great interest.
your
confidential" letter of 1st February, and have read same
We at once wrote in to H.B.M. Consul General, Sir Everard Fraser, and interviewed him this morning.
He informed us that any communication from him to the Home Authorities must pass through the Minister at Peking, to whom he wrote a short time ago on the subject.
He will now write again bringing out in his despatch the points you mention, which we have no doubt the Minister will confirm in his despatch Home, and we trust this will materially assist you in you efforts to get a Bill passed restricting wholesale trading in Opium within the United Kingdom.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE.
[CONFIDENTIAL.]
Copy of a letter from Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, LIONG KONG.
Messrs. ALFRED HOLT & Co.,
LIVERPOOL.
Dear Sirs,
16th March, 1916.
0.8.8. Co., Ltd., and C.M.S.N. Co., Ltd.
OPIUM SMUGGLING.
Your letter of February lat is to hand informing us of the further stage reached by you in the consideration of this matter, after consultation with eminent advisers.
We trust your representations to the various Government Departments will receive sympathetic attention, As soon as an appointment can be arranged it is our intention to lay all the important aspects of the case before the Governor and solicit his co-operation both as to increased useful action within the Colony and in support of your claim for Home legislation.
Yours faithfully,
8
(Signed) BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
Agents.