207
UBLIC
PECORD OFFICE
Reference --
41111C.0.822/12
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHI PHOTOGRAPH-NOT 10'
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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made an inquiry into the opium smoking question in the Far East three or four years ago on behalf of the Foreign Policy Association of New York, and produced a very moderate and fair report. He was appointed to the Permanent Central Board on our suggestion. Lyall thinks it would be a good thing, from our point of view, if he went. He is a fair-minded American with no anti-British complex, and can be relied upon to give a much fairer impression of the proceedings at Bangkok than the Ameri- can journalists who may be there. He is prepared to pay his own expenses.
The Permanent Central Board has no special interest under the Opium Conven- tion in connexion with the questions which will come up for discussion at the Con- ference, apart from the question of the illicit opium traffic-see Article 23 of that Convention; and I am not sure how some of the other powers would regard the presence of a representative of the Board. But before I consult them in the matter, I should like to know what the view of the Colonial Office is. Perhaps you will let me have a line as soon as possible.
C. 83035/31 [No. 3).
Yours, &c..
MALCOLM DELEVINGNE.
No. 16.
HIS MAJESTY'S MINISTER, BANGKOK, to FOREIGN OFFICE.
(Received I p.m., 30th May, 1981.) TELEGRAM.
(Copy received in Colonial Office, 4th June, 1931.)
No. 24. YOUR telegram No. 20.* Siamese Government state that, while pre- pared in principle to co-operate as far as is practically possible with British authorities, they understand that recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry will firstly be discussed in forthcoming Opium Conference in Bangkok before effect is given to any measures contemplated therein. Meanwhile they will gladly receive any suggestions as to plan of action which His Majesty's Government may wish to communicate to them.
Siamese Government agree entirely with the view that representatives should be plenipotentiaries with power to sign convention.
C. 83014/31 No. 59).
(No. 229.) MY LORD,
No. 17.
HONG KONG.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 4th June, 1931.)
Government House, Hong Kong, 13th May, 1931. WITH reference to Your Lordship's telegram of the 11th March last,† I have the honour to forward herewith a memorandum containing detailed observations on the recommendations of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking in the Far East.
2. For facility of reference the numeration of the Commission's conclusions and suggestions has been adhered to in the observations and the matters to which specific references are made in the telegram referred to above have been dealt with under the relevant headings.
* No. 9.
+ No. 3.
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3. I am addressing you separately on the question of sending a representative to London who might subsequently accompany the British Delegation to the Bangkok Conference.
.4. A copy of this despatch is being sent to your Lordship via Siberia with a view to its earlier arrival in England.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure in No. 17.
W PEEL,
Governor, &c.
MEMORANDUM CONTAINING DETAILED OBSERVATIONS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE CONTROL OF OPIUM SMOKING IN THE FAR EAST.
1. In paragraph 1 of their conclusions and suggestions the Commissioners state
that all measures aiming at the gradual suppression of opium smoking should be taken concurrently and applied as progressively as circumstances permit.
The measures already taken in Hong Kong are:-
(a) the limitation of the sale of opium to sale by the Government monopoly
and its salaried retailers;
(b) the fixation of the cost of Government opium at a price much in excess of
that which prevails in the neighbouring provinces of China;
(c) the prohibitions of the importation or preparation of opium other than
Government opium;
(d) the imposition of drastic penalties (both fines and imprisonment) for the importation, possession or use of opium other than Government opium.
(e) the prohibition of the keeping or using of establishments for the smoking
of opium;
the prohibition of the sale of opium to minors;
(g) the denunciation of the use of opium and the warning of pupils against it
in the schools of the Colony.
The sale by salaried retailers, the fixation at a high price and the prohibition of smoking establishments are in direct conflict with paragraphs 9, 11, 8, and 13 of the conclusions and suggestions and a complete reversal of policy in regard to these matters will therefore be necessitated if the recommendations of the Commissioners are to be adopted.
The limitation to sale by the monopoly (so far as it now extends), the prohibition of importation or preparation of opium other than Government opium, the penalties for importation, possession, and use of non-Government opium and the prohibition of sale to minors are wholly in accord with the views of the Commission.
The measures taken in connexion with education are in accord with the views of the Commission, but are less extensive than the Commissioners would desire.
2. In paragraph 2 the Commission indicates the necessity for scientific research
on the opium smoking problem.
Points instanced as requiring investigation are:-
(a) the amount of morphine absorbed by the smoker or eater;
(b) the actual effects of opium smoking on the individual;
(c) the effect of dross upon the consumer;
(d) the relative harmfulness of smoking and eating;
(e) The question of heredity of some of the secondary effects of smoking;
the possibility of finding harmless substitutes for smoking purposes;
(a) the possibility of the cure of addicts.
Experiments conducted by the Monopoly Analyst on the questions of the amount
of morphine absorbed by the smoker showed that less than one-thousandth part of the morphine content was inhaled, and some part of this is doubtless' exhaled.
The practice of eating opium is, so far as can be ascertained, non-existent in this Colony.
Very few individuals suffering from the effects of addiction to opium come into the hands of the Medical Officers of the Government.
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