9
533
く
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
EMC.O.882/11
If China produced no opium, it would be a comparatively simple matter to restrict production in other countries, and our difficulties would be ended. We could then register consumers here or limit the output of the prepared drug in any way that seemed good to us.
Indeed, if China will put an end to the cultivation of the poppy, I will shut down our factory at once, prohibit the consumption of opium and undertake within a short space of time to make the prohibition effective, but so long as ample supplies of cheap opium can be obtained from China, it is obvious that no steps that we can take will have the desired result.
46202 23.
No. 7.
I have, &c.,
R. E. STUBBS,
Governor.
SIR M. DELEVINGNE (GENEVA) to SIR G. GRINDLE (COLONIAL OFFICE). (Received in Foreign Office 3.35 p.m., 17th September, 1923.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 8.]
No. 62. THIS telegram, has been seen by Antrobus. ing you may wish to discuss the inatter with the Foreign Office.
Before reply-
There is a movement in Geneva in favour of combining into one the two Confer- ences proposed by the Opium Advisory Committee, viz., those on the Production of Drugs and on the Far Eastern question. There are great objections to this but it is favoured by the American delegation. It seems to me that their reason is that in view of the situation in the Philippines they desire to be represented at the Conference on the Far Eastern question. They might therefore be satisfied if they were invited to participate in this one. America was not included in the Committee's proposal since they have no (? dependencies) in which there is a temporary continuance of opium smoking. They might if they were present urge proposals which may be impracticable. e.g., suppression within a fixed period. It is, however, desirable not to antagonise them. The British Government would accordingly probably not wish to raise objections if America were to press their desire for representation openly. The opium question is to be discussed to-morrow so I should be glad to learn the views of the Colonial Office as soon as possible by telegraph.
46202/23.
No. 8.
SIR G. GRINDLE (COLONIAL OFFICE) to SIR M. DELEVINGNE (Geneva). (Sent through Foreign Office 6 p.m., 17th September, 1923.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
I CONCUR in the desirability of keeping separate the two Conferences. If essential in order to secure their support on the question of separate Conferences, I would not oppose the admission to the Far Eastern Conference of representatives of the United States of America.-GRINDLE.
44421/23.
SIR,
7223
No. 9.
HONG KONG.
[2] STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNORS.
(Confidential.)
[Answered by [1] No. 18, [2] Nos. 15 and 19.]
Downing Street, 24th September, 1923. WITH reference to my Confidential despatch of the 6th of July.* in which I enclosed a copy of Mr. Smith's Report on the recent meeting of the League of Nations Advisory Committee on Traffic in Opium, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of the Committee's Report. The Report was considered by the Council of the League who instructed the Secretary-General to communicate the Report to the Governments of all States Members of the League, expressing the hope that they would give such consideration to it as will enable their representatives to take the necessary action at the Assembly now in session to make the recommendations of the Advisory Committee effective. I am informed that there is little doubt that the recommendations of the Advisory Committee will be accepted by the Assembly.
2. In this event it is anticipated that the proposed Conference of Powers with Far East territories, which was recommended in the second resolutionț adopted by the Advisory Committee, will take place probably in the summer of next year.
3. For convenience of reference, I would remind you that the text of Article 6 of the International Opium Convention, 1912, is as follows:-
The Contracting Powers shall take measures for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture of, internal trade in, and use of prepared opium, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country concerned, unless regulations on the subject are already in existence."
4. I am aware of the measures which have already been taken in [Hong Kong] [Malaya] for the control of the manufacture, trade in, and use of prepared opium, and I desire to take this opportunity of assuring you of my appreciation of the effective manner in which these measures are administered by your Government. I have how- ever to inform you that the British Representative on the League of Nations Advisory Committee on Traffic in Opium has repeatedly expressed to my officers the view that it is difficult to defend the continuance, in the territory of a Power which claims an effective observance of the Convention, of a system in which ultimately the only effective checks on the amount of opium which may be consumed are (1) the high price of the commodity, and (2) the fluctuations of demand. determined by the purchasing power of consumers.
5. It cannot be denied that Sir Malcolm Delevingne's observations have con- siderable force, and I cannot regard the present position as satisfactory.
6. I therefore trust that with a view to determining what further measures can be taken in [Hong Kong] [Malaya] to give a more effective application to Chapter II of the Convention, you will give the fullest possible consideration to the suggestions of the Advisory Committee. The second resolution which, you will observe, was pro- posed by the British Representative, indicates the lines along which, in the view of His Majesty's Government, further progress in the control of the use of prepared opium would have generally the best prospects of success.
7. For this purpose you will probably find it convenient to appoint a Committee of your officers with perhaps a few unofficial members to examine the existing position and to explore the possibilities of further effective action.
8. In a matter such as this, affecting as it does a large proportion of the Chinese population of the Colony and them alone, I am fully alive to the fact that the success of any measures which may be adopted is very largely dependent on the willing co-operation or at any rate the acquiescence of the Chinese themselves. It is, therefore, important that they should realize and understand the nature of the obligations which are incumbent on His Majesty's Government as a signatory of the Opium Convention. For this reason as well as for the value of their views, having regard to their special interests in the question, I would suggest for your consideration the desirability of inviting one or more prominent Chinese to serve on the Committee.
* 28565/23: not printed.
Not reprinted here.
† Printed as an Annexure.
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON