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16.
Sir,
Home Office,
Whitehall.
7th April, 1923.
407
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Bridgeman to
refer to previous aemi-official correspondence on the
subject of the carriage of opium by British ships from
ports in the Persian Gulf, and to say, for the information
of the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, that he understands
that powers could be taken to regulate this traffic
by King's Regulations under Article 55 of the Persian
Courts and Islands Order-in-Council, 1907. It appears
to Mr. Bridgeman that an effective check could be
placed on the conduct of illicit traffic in British
ships if Regulations were made to empower the consuler
officers at ports in the Persian Gulf, before granting
clearance from the port to a British ship with opium
on board, to require the Master of the ship (1) to make
an affidavit stating the real destination of the opium;
(2) in the case of exports to countries who have adopted
the importation certificate system recommended by the
League of Nations or entered into a similar agreement
with His Majesty's Government, to produce a certificate
of the Government of the country of destination,
authorising the importation of the opium; and (3) to
enter into a bond for the delivery of the opium at that
destination,
The condition (2) should not be applied in the
der Secretary of State, KEIGN OFFICE.
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