634
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 arc takon by producing cuntries. This has, of course bcon orly realised by all the Governments concerned, and is one of the principai reavors for the assem-
bly of international Commissions and Jonventions on the opium question.
60.
At une présent time smuggling into this country is not very prevalent, mainly for the reason that the Regie opium is of a high quality being puro Indian without any mixture, and is sold at a fairly reasonable price.
61.
Smuggling out of this country has practically 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.
62.
With regard to tho futuro, when rogistration is put into foroo in this country, if the moa suros are as offco- tivo as it is hopod thoy will bo, smuggling out should prac- tically coago whatever conditions oxist in other countries. On the other hand, smuggling in is vory likoly to take placo for the uso of persons who do not present themselves for rc- gistration, being those who at the prosent timc, arc unwill- ing to enter eplum shops, and who indulge, as far as possible in illicit smoking. For an improvemont in this ata to of affairs, Siam can only look to the carnost co-oporation of noighbouring countries and to thoir taking moasures similar to those cdoptod 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 some smuggling takes plavo into Northorn Siam. The latter is under sorros- pondence with the Government of Burma, which has undertaken to co-porato in any mon surce adopted by the Siamoso Govern- mont to provont tho import of opium into Siam from those Statos.
63. Annexe IV shows the quantities of opium sóized by the customs at the port of Bangkok, both inwards and outwards While it cannot, of course, be claimed that all contraband opium is dotootod, the returns of dctaction always servo a8 a fair indication of tho relative amount going out or ooming in, your by year.