141
A
This agreement did not,
operation till 28th July, 1926,
France, Great Britain and India.
till 13th September, 1926.
it is true, come into
and then only as between
Portugal did not ratify
Prior, however, to the new Agreement coming into
force, the export of Indian opium was only allowed by the
Indian Government on the receipt of a certificate from the
Government of the importing country that the amounts
ordered were required for legitimate purposes.
The fact that the buyers in Macao have been able,
notwithstanding the arrangements referred to, to obtain
large quantities of Indian opium from unknown sources is
causing H.M. Government much anxiety and they consider it
necessary to make all possible efforts to discover where
or how the leakage of Indian export opium into the general
market has occurred. I shall be glad, therefore, if
while using whatever method appears to you to be most
suitable in the circumstances and while making it clear
that H. M. Government do not wish in making these
t
investigations to appear to be criticizing the Portugese
Government or to be suggesting that the Macao authorities
have neglected any international obligation, you will
make every endeavour to get to the bottom of these
transactions.
A full report for transmission to the Home
Office should be forwarded to me in due course.