Hongkong, Ceylon, the State of North Borneo,
Sarawa Siam, Indo-China and the Netherlands
Bast Indies, which receive Indian opium annually,
are bound by Article VI of the Opium Agreement
of 1985, to which all the above, including
Portagal, are partion, not to permit re-
exportation. It is true that Portugal, in
signing this Agreement, did so with a reservation
clause
which virtually annalled this exrumo so far as
145
she herself was concerned.
Nevertheless she
is legally prevented by the terma of that
Agreement which is now in force from obtaining
Indian opium from any of the countries to which
it is now exported by India.
5.
In view of these facte I am anxious
to make enquiries of the Portuguese Government
in the sense suggested by the Home office in
heir letter of March End, provided that such
nquiries can be made without arousing &
isproportionate resentment amongst the
ompetent Portuguese authorities.
Subject to
his proviso, therefore, I shall be glad if you
ill, by whatever method appears to you most
suitable...