436
j
18.
of such high value in proportion to its bulk, that even with the constant detection of cases of smuggling, the traffic will continue unless rigorous measures to prevent illicit exportation are taken by producing countries. This has, of course. boon oarly roalised by all the Governments concerned, and is one of the principal reasons for the assem-
bly of international Commissions and Jonventions on the opium question.
60. At the present time smuggling into this country is not very prevalent, mainly for the reason that the Regie opium is of a high quality being pure Indian without any mixture, and is sold at a fairly reasonable price.
61. Smuggling out of this country has prectically ceased, owing to there being no demand at prosont from China, as already montioned in para. 25. It is now definito- ly known that China has resumed the production of raw opium.
L
62.
With regard to the futuro, when rogistration is put into forco in this country, if tho moa suros aro as offco- tivo as it is hopod thoy will bo, smuggling out should prac- tically coa so whatever conditions oxist in other countrios. On the other hand, smuggling in is vory likely to take plago for the use of persons who do not prosent themselves for ro- gistration, boing those who at tho prosent tinc, are unwill- ing to onter pium shops, and who indulgc, as far as possible in illicit smoking. For an improvemont in this stato of affairs, Siam oan only look to the earnest co-operation of noighbouring countrios and to their taking moasurce similar to those adoptod hero. The question is complicated by the proximity of the British Shan States, where the cultivation of the poppy is still allowed, "and from which sono smuggling takos plavo into Northorn Siam, The Fatter is under eorros- pondonco with the Govornmont of Burma, which has under taken to co-porato in any measures adopted by the Stamoso Govern- mont to provont the import of opium into Siam from theso Statos.
63.
Annexe IV shows the quantities of opium seized by the customs at the port of Bangkok, both inwards and outwards While it cannot, of course, be claimed that all contraband epium is dotooted, the returns of detection always sOIVO 08 a fair indication of the relativo amount going out or coming in, your by your.