سل
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
584
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
$130878
(No. 203.) Sir,
No. 1.
Earl Curzon to Mr. Alston.
[November 17.]
REC
66927
IR 24 NOV 19
Foreign Office, November 17, 1919. IN his despatch No. 547 of the 30th December, 1918, copy of which is enclosed herewith,* His Majesty's Minister at Peking put forward the suggestion that, in view of the large amount of opium that is credibly reported to be still making its way from India by various channels into China, it would be desirable to prohibit the entire export of Indian opium for shipment to the Far East.
This recommendation was brought to the notice of the India Office, and a reply has now been received from that Department, copy of which is enclosed.*
The Government of India hold the view, which is endorsed by the India Office, that they cannot reasonably be asked to make the sacrifice of revenue involved in a total prohibition of their export of opium to the Far East, while such a step, owing to the recrudescence of cultivation in China, would bring no corresponding benefit to that country. They propose, however, as a measure promising an effective control in consonance with provisions of the International Opium Convention of 1912, that the system of direct sales to the Governments of the consuming countries should be extended to Indo-China and Japan. According to this arrangement the Government of the importing country states the amount of its legitimate annual requirements, thus relieving the Government of India of any suspicion of exporting excessive quantities to the country in question. Agreements of this nature have already been concluded between the Government of India and the Governments of Siam, the Dutch East Indies, Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and British North Borneo, and a copy of the agreement with the Straits Settlements will be found annexed to the enclosed despatch from the Government of India.
I have to request that you will approach the Japanese Government in accordance with the desire expressed by the India Office, and enquire whether they would be prepared to negotiate an agreement with the Government of India on the lines proposed.
I am requesting His Majesty's representative at Paris to address a similar enquiry to the French Government.
(Confidential.)
It is, of course, beyond question that the worst offenders in connection with the smuggling of Indian opium into China are the Japanese authorities themselves. In view of this fact the suggested agreement might seem a poor substitute for total prohibition of export. But, as the Government of India mention in their letter, it may be fairly surmised that Japan would be able to supply any deficiency by purchasing Persian or Turkish opium. Moreover, the clear and definite fixing of responsibility may have a salutary effect on Japanese policy in this respect.
I am, &c.
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.
• Not printed.
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