209
C. 63017/29 [No. 76].
4.
No. 185.
CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Confidential.)
[Answered by No. 204.]
4, Millbank, Westminster,
SIB,
London, SW.1, 29th July, 1929. WITH further reference to your letter of the 6th June,* I have the honour to state that alternative tenders for the supply of 150 chests and 1,200 chests of Persian opium were received by us from Messrs. Hadji Ali Akbar and Sons Ltd., Messrs. Bellairs, Atkinson and Co., and Messrs. Andrew Weir and Company. The tender received from Messrs. Hadji Ali Akbar and Sons Ltd., for 1,200 chests at £144 per chest of 140 lb. net, has been accepted by us on instructions from the Colonial Govern- ment. This was the lowest tender for the quantity mentioned.
I have, &c.,
W. A. F. WICKHART,
for Crown Agents.
Indian opium gives. Old Persian opium gives New Persian opium gives Turkish opium gives
***
1,040 tahils of chandu a chest (approximately). 1,500
"
1,260 1,000 "}
"
"
12
"
"
"
The above programme provides for an annual output of about 3,195,000 tahils in the years 1929 and 1930.
4. The acceptance of the tender referred to in paragraph one above provides for the supply from Persia of 450 chests in 1929 and of 750 chests in 1930. In accordance with the above programme it will be necessary to arrange for the supply of a further 450 Persian chests in 1930. I therefore propose that tenders should be called for by the Crown Agents about March next for the supply of 75 Persian chests monthly in the last six months of 1930. This should have the effect of satisfying local requirements, maintaining an even market supply and affording an adequate stock in hand at the end of next year.
I have, &c.,
HUGH CLIFFORD,
Malayan Civil Service,
Governor.
C. 63017/29 [No. 80].
No. 186.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Confidential.)
(Received 27th August, 1929.)
[Answered by Nos. 190 and 252.]
Government House, Singapore, 31st July, 1929.
MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to refer to Mr. Amery's Straits Settlements Confidential despatch 2 of the 6th June, 1929,† and to inform you that the tenders were reported by the Crown Agents in a telegram dated the 20th July, 1929, as follows:-
"Confidential. Opium. Your telegram 29th May to Secretary of State. Following tenders have been received for 150 chests: Bellairs £143 per chest, Akbar £144, Weir £149 178. 6d. 1,200 chests Akbar £144, Bellairs £146, Weir £149 17s. 6d. Delivery as specified in my letter of 17th June No. 340." Upon consideration of this telegram it was decided to accept the tender of Messrs. Akbar for 1,200 chests at £144 a chest and the Crown Agents have been informed accordingly.
2. The consumption of chandu in the first six months of the current year was approximately 1,566,270 tahils and on that basis the consumption for the total year would be 3,132,540 tahils. In addition it is necessary to provide say 170,000 tabils for the needs of Sarawak, as that Government proposes to obtain its supplies of chandu from Singapore when the new packing plant is installed.
3 The Superintendent, Government Monopolies, has accordingly prepared the following programme :—
Estimated Requirements of Persian Opium in 1930.
C. 63017/29 [No. 87].
No. 187.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Sent 4.25 p.m., 27th September, 1929.) TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 189.]
CONFIDENTIAL. Opium. The British Representative on the League of Nations Advisory Committee has been asked by a representative of the Persian Opium Monopoly, about possibility of direct dealings between the Monopoly and your Government. The Persian Government intends after March next to take 'the export trade under its control either directly or through an Agent. They intend to establish their own factory and laboratory for the purpose of making up opium for export and testing it. If they have at first to work through a merchant, the firm selected would probably not be a Persian one. It was claimed that the Monopoly would be able to supply you and other governments at a much lower price than you now paying.
Their representative, Mr. Kitabgi, is now in Europe seeking to make necessary financial and other arrangements and wishes to discuss semi-officially with members of this Office about the middle of October but will later, probably visit Singapore.
Please telegraph any observations. Mr. Kitabgi has already been informed of your usual conditions as to delivery and payment from which I assume you will not wish to depart. Would you wish to have any independent test of the opium before shipment from Persia. I should also be glad to know whether any discussions have yet taken place with the Dutch authorities and if so, with what result.-Passfield.
Old
New
Indian Chests.
Persian Persian Turkish
Balance on 31st December, 1928... · To come in 1929
834
1,773
Chests. Chests. Chests.
834
560
20
2,050
2,607
834
2,610
20
Use in 1929
1,602
315
825
20
C. 63017/29 [No. 90]. .
No. 188.
Estimated balance on 31st December,
1929
1,005
519
1,785
To come in 1930
1,520
1,200
2,525
519
2,985
Use in 1930
1,602
315
825
(Secret.)
Balance on 31st December, 1930...
923
204
2,160
MY LORD,
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 30th September, 1929.)
Government House, Singapore, 30th August, 1929. WITH reference to Mr. Amery's Secret telegram of the 23rd March, 1929,* 1 have the honour to enclose a copy of correspondence with the Governor-General of
* C. 63017/29 [No. 64]: not printed.
+ No. 182.
↑ No. 181.
* No. 176.
686
ل
PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :---
PLEC.O.882/11
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
1