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measures to safeguard her supply, and is making mere
difficult the task of those governments of opium-smoking
countries which are genuinely trying to bring the habi t
under effective control.
You know, I think, the position in Biam, Illicit
opium, mainly of Chinese origin, is pouring into Biam,
partly by sea and partly from the north via the Shan States.
There is reason to believe that the amount entering the
country is increasing.
opium. The extent of the illicit trade has not only forced
Siam (on the advice of Stevens and my self) to postpone
It sells vastly cheaper than licit
sine die her registration and rationing scheme; it also
tends to put temptations in the way of officials. It is
obvious that, before it can hope to regain the initiative
and properly to central consumption - let alone ration it -
the Government must be able to rely on an assured supply.
So far, no definite alternative has present ed
itself to purchasing Persian Opium through the Singapore
dealers. As I mentioned in my letter of April 12th, we
have been trying to arrange for a direct supply from the
Persian Government, but the negotiations (starting in Paris
between Prince Chareen and Dr. Millspaugh's lieutenant,
Colonel McCormack) have made very little progr080 some
of Colonel M's initial conditions were impossible - and the
departure of the American "mission" from Persia, if it occurs,
will not facilitate matters. Colonel Haworth has suggested
two Manchester firms; they may be all right, but I must say that their names (Ziegler and Shirazee) don't inspire much
Fortunately, we have recently received information
confidence.
of a more promising channel of supply. Bellairs, Atkinson
and
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