649
134
But in the present state of its finances this Colony cannot provide “practically unlimited means for this service.
İf both these remedies fail the Government of the Netherlands East Indies pro- policy according to which the consumption of poses to depart from its traditional "
and to lower the price of the Regie opium. opium is checked by enhancing prices
This is the course which the Hong Kong Government now feels itself obliged to adopt.
6. When the Netherlands East Indies, many days' voyage distant from the principal source of smuggled supplies, finds opium smuggling growing beyond control, the difficulties of Hong Kong with smugglers all around it can be easily appreciated.
I have, &c.,
C. 30236/27 [No. 40].
:
135
No. 96.
HONG KONG.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Sent 8.30 p.m., 7th December, 1927.)
TELEGRAM.
His Majesty's Government are unable to approve purchase of Persian opium
for the purpose of continuance of experimental sale of low-priced opium in view
of the international difficulties to which it would give rise.-AMERY.
W. T. SOUTHORN, Officer Administering the Government.
C. 30236/27 [No. 41].
C. 30236/27 [No. 29].
No. 94.
HONG KONG.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY
(Paraphrase.)
OF STATE.
(Received 3.50 a.m., 18th November, 1927.)
TELEGRAM.
18TH NOVEMBER. Unless you have found it possible to make arrangements for supplies of Persian opium to arrive in Hong Kong direct by 1st December, I urgently request that, as suggested in my telegram of the 23rd October,* the Straits Settlements Government may be authorized to lend me some immediately. Unless further supplies are forthcoming I must cease manufacture on the 15th of December. At the present rate of consumption my existing supplies will not last beyond 15th of January. In that event the situation would again be completely in the hands of the smugglers.
C. 30236/27 [No. 37].
No. 95.
HONG KONG.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Paraphrase.)
(Received 7.20 a.m., 2nd December, 1927.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 97.]
2ND DECEMBER. My telegram of 18th November. With prices and demand as at present supply of present grades of opium cannot be maintained longer than 15th January, while large increase in demand round China new year 23rd January is certain.
If new stock is to be on the market supplies of raw opium must arrive by 20th December. There is already danger of shortage being suspected, and if increased demand results increases of price will be necessary to eke out supply till 15th January without taking account of increased demand at China new year afterwards when the market may be without legitimate supply and so afford opportunity to smugglers.
* No. 91.
+ No. 94.
No. 97.
HONG KONG.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 3.30 p.m., 7th December, 1927.)
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 98.]
SECRET. Your telegram of 2nd December* (cypher) to which my code telegram of to-day about Persian opium also refers. From the delay in dealing with your request you will have gathered that the proposal received full and careful examination before Cabinet decision against purchase was taken. I should like you and Southorn to know that I did not fail to acquaint the Cabinet with all the arguments in support of the experiment contained in your despatch of 6th of Octobert and in your telegrams or to stress the importance the Government of Hong Kong attached to it, but I was unable to find in them any sufficient reason to expect ultimate decrease in consumption as the result of your measures. If failure to obtain Persian opium brings about the untimely end of an interesting experiment I shall much regret your Government's inevitable embarrassment. I trust that you will give me timely warning of any impor- tant development of opium policy you may contemplate before the Colonial Govern- ment and its prestige are committed publicly and so avoid the result in the present instance. You may rely on my giving sympathetic consideration to any proposal and support in all reasonable measures. For personal information of yourself and Southorn I have great hope that one result of this discussion will be action by His Majesty's Government at Geneva, the outcome of which will probably be a League Commission to the Far East to examine the problem on the spot, and so bring home to other Members of the League the enormous difficulties of the Governments of Eastern Depen- dencies. Any attempt to get in touch with the realities of the situation-will, I am sure, be welcomed by you.-AMERY.
C. 30236/27 [No. 42].
No. 98.
HONG KONG.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Paraphrase.)
(Received 2.25 p.m., 12th December, 1927.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 99.]
12TH DECEMBER. Your telegram of 7th December.§ Opium. (1) Reduction
of opium consumption is impossible owing to conditions in China and Kwangtung of which Hong Kong is an integral part for this purpose. So long as militarists require
China encourages
the production and Hong Kong remains the main shelter for
money
* No. 95.
No. 96.
↑ No. 93.
§ No. 97.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
།།
بس
12_
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
IALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON