53
30226/27
combined operations of Governments, no more supplies
are available.
26.
This I conceive to be the policy of the
League and it is a policy which the Hong Kong
Government will wholeheartedly support. But it
clearly implies that, while raw opium is still
procurable by private traders, Governments must
have access to supplies. For this reason I ventured
to doubt (see paragraph 6 supra) whether the action
of the Government of India in denying supplies to
British Colonial Governments, and I would add to
macao, is really best suited to advance the common
cause under existing circumstances. Eut His Majesty's
Government has now further decided that the Hong Kong
Covernment must not purchase opium from the Persian
Government, even though the express purpose in
view is to combat the opium smuggler. The League,
however, has just induced the Tersian Government to
assume control over opium for the same purpose;
1927!
and, when you inform me in your telegram of the
15th October,
that Forsian production has
been stimulated by government monopolies in the
Far East consequent on the restriction of exports
from India" surely it is overlooked that the object
of the League under existing conditions is to
restrict the operations, not of Governments, but of
private tradera and smugglers. It is well known
that Persian opium is available in large quantities
to private traders. Surely then the decision recently
11 No. 6.30236 / 27C No.7]
25
taken