British Colonies in the Far East in regard to the
supplying of opium. On the contrary, however, and to
the surprise of this Government, the Government of India
ceased supplying to the Régie that which it had supplied
to the Monopoly and created for us the extremely difficult
position of instituting an opium Régie without opium.
Other Governments supplied the deficiency, which was
91
a painful surprise to me, as it came from a Government with
which we have enjoyed the most cordial relations of
friendship and good neighbourliness.
We have overcome
all these difficulties and are prepared to defend the
Régie and improve its services, giving proof of our good
will and our firm desire to see that conventions are
carried out which are ratified by us, confident that His
Majesty's Government and the League of Nations will do
justice to our efforts and sacrifices.
I avail myself ete.
(Sgd) A.M. de Bettencourt nodrigues.