369
(7429/310/87)
38
FOREIGN OFFICE, SA.1.
13th September, 1987.
sir,
With reference to my despatch No. 359 of November
16th, 1926, regarding the supply of opium to Macao and to
further correspondence on the same subject, I have to
inform you that the Portuguese Ambassador addressed a note
to me on August 15th last, of which a copy is enclosed,
enquiring whether His Majesty's Government would be
prepared to authorise the Governor of Hongkong to supply the
Masas Government with tm cases of Indian opium monthly.
At the same time I learnt from the Colonial Office that a
telegram had been received from the Governor of Hongkong
dated August 15th in which sir Cecil Clementi reported that
the Governor of Macae had approached him direct with a view
to obtaining a supply of Indian spium.
2.
As the result of an inter-departmental meeting
at which representatives of the Home Office, Colonial Office,
India Office and this department were present, it was
decided that it was not possible to mooede to the Portugue se
Government's request. A copy of the note oonveying this
decision, which was despatched to the Portuguese Amblerador
on September 10th, is forwarded herewith 1 or your information
together with copies of the relevant correspondence with
the Goleni«l Office on the same subject.
A Grant watson, Esq.,
etc..
Lisbon.
stu..