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HOME OFFICE,
10th December, 1923.
523
His Majesty's vovernment discussing matter with Persian Government before taking any action if they nevertheless persist in proposal.
Full text by bag.
Dear Wellesley,
Thank you for your note of the 7th enclosing telegram received from Teheran about the proposed King's Regulations to control the opium traffic on British ships from the Persian Gulf to the Far East. The telegram is very disappointing but I do not think you can do anything but wait for the full report of the American adviser, though it will have the effect of delaying still further the measures which are urgently needed.
It appears to me, however, from the telegram, that the American adviser has misunderstood the object and scope of our proposals. He appears to think that we propose to place an embargo on shipments of opium from rersia,
but of course we propose to do nothing of the sort. All that we propose is to stop as far as we can the export of opium from Fersi on British ships to false destinations or destinations where its entry would be illegal, by requiring the master of the ship to state the real destina- tion;
to produce the import certificate of the Jovernment of the country
of destination (in cases where the overment has adopted the import certificate system);
at that destination.
fide trade.
and to enter into a bond for the delivery of the opium
The Regulations would not interfere at 11 with bora Surely the merican adviser would not seriously suggest that the smugling of opium from Persia to the Far East which is going on should be tolerated in order to prevent unpleasant financial consequences to
ersian merchants and peasants! Such an attitude is, of course, absolutely inconsistent with the International Opium Convention, and with the policy of the British Government, to say nothing of the policy of the U.S.A. Government, and could not be defended. I think it would be worth while for you to telegraph out to Persia, saying that there seems to have bean a misunderstanding on the part of the American Financial dviser of the British proposals, and explaining us above.
Please let me know what you decide to do.
Yours sincerely,
7. Wellesley, Est, C.B.
MALCOLM DELEVINGE.