604
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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The position would in future be that opium smoking would be an offence against the law, as it is already in Great Britain and the rest of the Empire, and the authorities would take all the measures in their power to put it down, as for example the authorities are doing here to put it down among the Chinese of Limehouse or Liverpool.
The Home Office propose that the adoption of this policy should be urged by the British Delegation at the International Conference in November on all the States represented, but that its adoption by Great Britain should not be dependent on the action of the other Powers and that this should be publicly announced.
Things at least cannot be worse than they are under the present system, and it is hoped may be better. The fact that the practice of opium smoking is declared illegal will tend to deter decent people, and strengthen the tendency already strong in the younger generation of Chinese in the Colonies against it.
7. If the policy of suppression is adopted by the Government it will apparently have certain consequences for the export of opium from India on which the Indian Government should be consulted.
All or practically all the opium exported from India is for smoking and goes to the Far East, partly to our own possessions, partly to the possessions of France, Holland, Portugal, and Japan, and to Siam. The revenue derived from this export trade is about £2,000,000 a year, which goes to the Central Government, forming under 2 per cent. of the total revenue.
If the policy of suppression is adopted for our own Colonies, it would seem difficult to continue the exports from India to the possessions of other Powers, after the import into our own Colonies has been stopped. The abandonment of the Indian export trade is being continually urged on Great Britain (especially in United States of America). It is justified at present on the ground that Chapter II of the Opium Convention recog- nizes that the suppression of opium smoking can only be effected gradually; that as long as opium is required and used in accordance with the provisions of Chapter II India may lawfully supply it; and that as the practice of opium smoking is gradually extinguished the Indian export trade will die a natural death.
If, however, the British Government were to adopt a policy of suppression-- whether immediate or gradual-for the Colonies, it would not be consistent with that policy for the Indian Government to go on exporting to the possessions of other countries after suppression had taken effect in our own. The present export may be justifiable if and as long as the importing countries are in fact carrying out the gradual suppression provided for in Chapter II, but if other countries were going to lag behind, and refused to take the steps that the British Government considered necessary for discharging the obligations under Chapter II, the British Government would find it very hard to defend the continued export of opium to such countries.
31518/24.
No. 27.
HONG KONG.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 3.50 p.m., 7th July, 1924.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 31.]
If proposal CONFIDENTIAL. Your despatch of the 6th March, Confidential.* for gradual suppression of opium smoking by rationing and registration are considered impracticable what would be your views as to adopting policy of total prohibition to be brought into force after fixed period long or short. What would be probable effects as regards Colony generally also as regards smuggling. Colony would not be expected to do more in the way of preventive measures than at present. British Representative suggested that since presumably smugglers are already exerting utmost efforts to evade
* No. 18.
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existing preventive measures mere maintenance of present degree of vigilance would continue to restrain smuggling within due limits. Do you agree?—THOMAS,
31518/24.
No. 28.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 3.50 p.m., 7th July, 1924.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 30.]
CONFIDENTIAL. Your despatch of 18th March, Confidential.*
Since you are
not optimistic as to ultimate success of registration and rationing and since Hong Kong definitely consider these measures impracticable there, British Representative suggests adoption of policy total prohibition opium smoking to be brought into force after fixed period which could be made sufficiently long to enable Governments concerned to make necessary adjustments. Telegraph your views on effects of adoption of this proposal.
-THOMAS.
32787/24.
No. 29.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 4 p.m., 9th July, 1924.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 67.]
9TH JULY. Your two telegrams of the 27th June,† Confidential, Opium. (1) America proposals. On behalf of the whole of Malaya enter strongest objections against the acceptance of the principle that no State is to draw any net revenue from the control. In the Colony enforcement of the principle, especially at the suggestion of foreign Governments, could only be carried in opposition to public opinion with dangerous results and strain of loyalty. In Malay States its enforcement would mean the loss of British prestige. It would also, especially in view of uncertainty of revenue from rubber and tin, involve financial troubles of incalculable extent. The incidence of any income-tax would be resented, and a high income-tax would arouse the fiercest The people of country feeling amongst all races against the British Government. would say that in order to deprive them of use for general purpose of revenue which they consider natural and legitimate, they are to be burdened with new and un- necessary taxation. They would contend that revenue from opium differs little if at all from revenue from alcohol, and they would ask whether any nation is justified in objecting to another nation deriving revenue from alcohol. (2) British delegates suggestion(s). This, in the opinion of my advisers and myself, will not bear investi- gation. It would mean that the Government of Malaya would be endeavouring with an income-tax steadily increasing towards a danger point to carry on necessary service, whilst an increasing portion of their revenue was being diverted to a fund which is unnecessary and even dangerous as building up services, which as opium traffic declines will be eventually left in the air with no money to pay for them.
I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion in principle. I'do not believe that it would be practicable in Malaya even if the French Indo-China and Netherlands East Indies adopt it, which I cannot believe will be the case. Hong Kong, a self-contained a Com- Colony with easier financial conditions, affords no parallel. I am appointing mittee as suggested by Pountney, consisting of the Treasurers of the Colony of the Federated Malay States and Johore.
* No. 19.
† Nos. 23 and 24.