204
In preparation for conference I shall be glad to receive by beginning of June your detailed observations on recommendation of League of Nations Commission of Inquiry so far as these concern [Malaya (including Unfederated Malay States)] [Hong Kong. Copies of first volume of Report in my despatch No. [62] [68+] of 25th February, I understand that second volume containing Commission's detailed Reports on each of the Possessions visited will not be issued for another month.
In particular you should discuss fully in all their bearings proposals (a) for reduc- tion in price of Government opium together with estimate of approximate effect on consumption and on smuggling, and (b) for utilization of opium revenues.
[To [2]: Please include in your despatch reports on (i) practice of permitting retail shops to engage in sale of other commodities besides opium (in apparent contra- diction to intention of Article 1 (3) of Geneva Agreement) and (ii) on measures which would be feasible in Hong Kong towards giving effect to Commission's recommenda- tion regarding licensing and rationing.]
You may consider it desirable to send representative to London to be available for consultation while policy to be adopted by His Majesty's Government is under con- sideration. In that event representative should if possible be officer who would accompany British delegation to Bangkok Conference.
[To [1]: Please also ascertain views of Sarawak Government on League of Nations Commission's Report and consult them as to their representation at Bangkok Conference. I am consulting British North Borneo Company as regards North Borneo.1-PASSFIELD.
0.83014/31 (No. 22).
No. 4.
COLONIAL OFFICE to BRITISH NORTH BORNEO COMPANY,
[Answered by No. 20.]
SIR,
Downing Street, 20th March, 1931. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 25th February, I am directed by Lord Passfield to request you to inform the Court of Directors that it has been agreed that the International Conference provided for by Article 12 of the Geneva Opium Agreement of 1925 shall be held at Bangkok in November of this year.
2. In preparation for this Conference, His Majesty's Government desire to have an opportunity of considering the views of the various administrations concerned, on the recommendations of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking in the Far East. A copy of a telegram§ addressed to the Officer Administering the Government of the Straits Settlements on this subject is enclosed and I am to request that His Lordship may be informed in due course, and if possible by the beginning of June, of the views of the Court on the matter.
3. I am also to inquire whether it is desired to nominate a representative of North Borneo to accompany the British delegation to Bangkok and whether he or some other representative of North Borneo would be available for consultation in London when the policy to he adopted by His Majesty's Government is under consideration.
I am, &c..
WALTER D. ELLIS.
7
careful consideration to the Commission's report, in consultation with the Governments of the British dependencies concerned, but that having regard to the delays necessarily involved in correspondence with territories so distant they fear that it will not be possible for them to comply with the request of the Council to communicate their observations on the Report by the date mentioned.
*
2. In this connexion I am to invite reference to the minutes of the meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on opium held at the Home Office on the 19th February.
3. Copies of this letter are being sent to the Dominions Office, the Home Office and the India Office.
C. 83014/31 [No. 33].
SIB,.
No. 6.
I am, &c.,
WALTER D. ELLIS.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. [Answered by No. 7.]
Foreign Office, S.W.1, 31st March, 1931. WITH reference to the twelfth meeting at the Home Office on the 19th February last* of the Interdepartmental Opium Committee to consider action to be taken on the Report of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into Opium Smoking in the Far East, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Henderson to transmit to you herewith for the concurrence of the Secretary of State for the Colonies draft telegrams† and despatches which he proposes to address to His Majesty's Representatives at Paris, Lisbon, The Hague, Washington, Tokio, and Bangkok, in accordance with decisions reached at the meeting.
2. Mr. Henderson has considered the question raised at the meeting of the participation of the United States of America and China in the Opium Conference to be held in Bangkok next November under Article 12 of the Geneva Opium Agreement of 1925. He can see no objection on political grounds to the United States Government being invited, if it is deemed desirable, to send an observer to the Conference since the Opium Commission's report, which embraces the Philippines, is likely to constitute the chief basis of discussion. Beyond this likelihood the United States of America not heing a signatory of the Geneva Opium Agreement of 1925 have no real claim to representation at the Conference.
3. On the other hand Mr. Henderson would view with serious misgivings any participation of China in the Conference. Enough is already known of that country's attitude to the findings of the Opium Commission to justify the view that such participation would be more likely to hinder than to assist the work of the Conference. There is, moreover, the added danger that a Chinese delegation at the Conference would use the occasion to raise extraneous issues of a purely political nature to the possible embarrassment of His Majesty's Government in the pursuit of their general policy in the Far East.
4. Mr. Henderson does not at present see that in the case either of the United States of America or of China His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom should assume any initiative in regard to their representation or non-representation at the Conference.
5. Similar letters have been addressed to the Home Office and India Office.
I am, &c.,
C. W. ORDE.
C. 83014/31 [(No. 29].
SIR,
No. 5.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Downing Street, 28th March, 1931.
WITH reference to your letter of the 4th March,|| regarding the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking in the Far East, I am directed by Lord Passfield to suggest that the Secretary-General of the League of Nations should be informed that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are giving
+ C. 83014/31 [No. 9]: not printed.
Enclosure printed 18 No. 2.
* C. 83014/31 [No. 11]: not printed.
C. 83014/31 [No. 14]: not printed.
* No. 3.
C. 83014/31 [No. 34].
No. 7.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE
SIR,
Downing Street, 17th April, 1931.
I AM directed by Lord Passfield to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st March, § and to request you to inform the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
§ No. 6.
* No. I.
Printed na No. 9.
Printed as No. 10.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
C.O.882/12
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON