5
(7) The
new
are
prices
that is probably late in 1930, by which time we may
expect to be in the throes of the International
Conference which will be held after the
Commission has made its report. I do not
think, therefore, that we need very much fear
Geneva. Sir Malcolm Delevingne himself may
object but on the whole he has been much more
reasonable in the last few months.
(4) It is obvious that in any case
Hong Kong will have to start using Persian instead
of Indian Opium within a year or two. There
might be a certain amount of difficulty in getting people accustomed to the new kind of Opium and probably the sooner they start the
change the better.
(5) The Persian monopoly is not yet
effective in the sense that direct sales by the
Persian Goverment to the consuming Governments
have been arranged, but it may become so in the
future. In that case it might be useful for
Hong Kong to have as it were a certain claim
on the Persian market, otherwise they might be
left out completely.
(6) Although, as stated above, we have
only promised to let Hong Kong have Persian
Opium to make up its total supplies to the
parity at least an 1927 standard, the fact that the total import s attempt to meer
the
would not exceed those of that year would make
necessity of selling boil it much easier to defend ourselves at Geneva.
maian &
Pession, nor
a reduction
merely all-round. It is reasonable to change less
for Persian.
А
The arguments on each side are
fairly evenly balanced as, although the real
advantages lie wholly on the side of the
Governor's proposal, any opposition could make
great play with the undesirability of
reconsidering a Cabinet decision so soon
especially