:
72/
Any further communication on this subject
should be addressed to
The Under Secretary of State for India. Revenue. Department,
India Office,
London, 8. W.
and the following reference quoted :—
Sir,
R & S. 6727/19,
CO 66979
INDIA OFFICE,
Ber 24 v 13
WHITEHALL,
LONDON, S.W. 22 November, 1919.
With reference to the correspondence ending with Sir J. Anderson's memorandum No. 21082/15, dated the 19th May 1915, I am
directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward,
for the information of Viscount Milner, copy of a letter No. R & S.6727
dated the 20th November, 1919, to the Under Secretary of State, the
Foreign Office.
2. The Government of India desire that every effort should be made to limit exports of opium from India to the quantities required for legitimate consumption in the various consuming countries; and with this object they propose to extend the system under which several Governments already obtain their supplies by direct purchase
from the Government of India. The object of this proposal is to relieve India of responsibility for any abuses which may occur, and
to place the obligation of limiting imports to the quantities required
for legitimate consumption directly upon the Governments of the
consuming countries, which alone are in a position to gauge the
legitimate demand, and to restrict their imports to the amounts
necessary to meet that demand.
3. The Government of India is now addressing the Governments of
Ceylon and Mauritius on the subject, and the Foreign Office has been
asked to initiate negotiations with the Governments of France, Japan,
and Portugal, with the object of concluding agreements for direct sale to the eGovernments. If such arrangements can be made, the
Calcutta opium auctions will cease.
4. As the agreement with Portugal of the 14th June 1913 is of special interest to Hong Kong, Viscount Milner may consider it
advisable
Under Secretary of State,
COLONIAL OFFICE.