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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
|F 1399/25/10]
22762
[April 18.]
9 MAY 21
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Extract from the "Japan Weekly Chronicle" of March 3, 1921.—(Received in Foreign Ofice, April 18.)
[Proceedings in the Dist (House of Peers, February 23, 1921).]
THE MORPHIA TRADE.
Baron Fujimura, after the noon recess, brought forward interpellations regarding the opium question. He said that he wished to ask some questions about a matter which was calculated to have an important bearing upon the diplomatic relations between Japan and China. China, in her present state, was incompetent to prevent the smuggling of opium and morphine into her country, and the unfortunate Chinese were falling victims to the poisonous effects of these drugs. The raising of opium was extensively carried on in India, and it was an undeniable fact that the Indian Govern- ment was obtaining a considerable revenue from this drug. Morphia was imported into Kobe from England, America and India, and then re-exported to Tsingtau and Chientao. From America over 13,500 kwan of the drug were coming to Japan every year, and these drugs went to demoralise the Chinese people, physically and mentally. The fact was indisputable that Japan was among the three big countries smuggling opium into that country. From this source the Kwantung Government was reported to be realising a revenue of over 3,000,000 yen annually. Among the Chinese people there was the impression that the smuggling of opium into China was being encouraged by the Japanese Government, and the creation of such an unfavourable impression was most deplomble from the humanitarian and diplomatic points of view. Baron Fujimura asked whether the Government bad any intention of exercising strict control over the smuggling of opium.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
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Mr. Tokonami (the Home Minister) replied that the control of opium was enforced in accordance with the Opium Law, which was revised the year before last. exporting opium it was essential that the permission of the Home Minister should be obtained, and the exportation of the drug, except for medical use, was absolutely prohibited. As there were rumours that smuggling of the drug was still going on, regulations for its control were issued in December, and had been in operation from the beginning of this year. In these circumstances, the Minister believed that the irregularities which had hitherto been committed would be effectually checked. As regards the drug which was imported into China without being imported into Japanese ports first, there was no means of controlling it.
THE OPIUM CONVENTION.
Count Uchida (the Foreign Minister), supplementing the answer given by the Home Minister, said that, although Japan was a signatory to the International Opium Convention of 1912, it had not been ratified up to the present; but, seeing that the convention would acquire validity from the present year, the Japanese Government was prepared to exercise stricter control.
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