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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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186

Crown Agents proposed to call for tenders returnable within one month, in order to give the Constantinople firms time to reply. Do you consider this interval too long? If so would you prefer that letters calling for tenders should be issued simultaneously by Crown Agents to British firms and British Consul at Constantinople to Constantinople firms, requiring tenders to be made by telegraph within a few days? Pending your reply Crown Agents are taking no action.

Į should be glad to learn total quantity of opium you expect to buy this year.-

AMERY.

C. 53017/A/28 [No. 2].

(Paraphrase.)

No. 147.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 12.47 p.m., 4th July, 1928.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by Nos. 148 and 150.]

YOUR telegram of 2nd July.* Supply of opium. Your alternative suggestion to call simultaneously for tenders in London and Constantinople is preferable. Supply should, however, be in ten monthly instalments of 100 chests September, 1928, to June, 1929. I anticipate this will be sufficient for consumption until the end of 1929. I advise also calling at an early date for further tenders for additional 2,000 chests to be delivered in instalments of 200 chests a month from July, 1929, to May, 1930. With this we could probably keep out of the market for further supplies until the end of 1929. Essential that all invitations to tender should insist on conditions as to quality of opium and financial arrangements as in my telegram of 9th May.†

C. 53017/A/28 [No. 18].

No. 148.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE

(Paraphrase.)

GOVERNMENT.

(Sent 8.30 p.m., 16th August, 1928.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 149.]

Your telegram of 4th July. Following is result of invitations to tender for supply of opium:—

(1) Taranto et Fils. No reply;

Whittalls cannot tender for supply of Persian opium, but they could offer Turkish containing 11 per cent. morphine at about £175 per chest, and would submit samples to you before definite order given;

(3) Hadji Ali Akbar and Sons' tender is £275 per chest on conditions laid down, provided that in order to complete delivery by March they may ship at rate of 150 chests monthly. This is necessary cause of new Government monopoly in Persia, their temporary arrangements with Government expiring on 20th March, 1929. Offer subject further to reply by 17th instant;

(4) Bellairs, Atkinson and Company's tender is £249 per chest on conditions laid down with proviso that shipment of first 300 chests may be made at their option in one, two, or three consignments before 7th November, 1928, and that they may complete delivery by March, 1929, if necessary

‡ No. 147.

* No. 146.

† No. 135.

187

because of change in conditions owing to Government monopoly. They further provide that if, as effect of monopoly price to them is reduced by more than £10 per chest, half such reduction in excess of £10 will be passed on to Government.

Bellairs Atkinson also make following alternative offers in view of complete change wrought by the Persian monopoly

(i) they will supply 300 chests at £244 for shipment on or before 7th December, and offer for the remainder when Persian monopoly has fixed its charges; (ii) they offer to buy as Agents for term of the contract taking full merchants' responsibility, thus ensuring to Government full benefit of any reduction in price;

(iii) they could offer Turkish opium at £175 to £220 per chest according to

quality, to test not less than 9 per cent.

You will realize that the higher prices quoted are partly the consequence of uncertainty as to the effect of the establishment by Persian Government of Monopoly. Telegraph without delay which, if any, offer you wish to accept.-AMERY.

C. 53017/A/28 [No. 19].

No. 149.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

*THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Paraphrase.)

17TH AUGUST.

(Received 3.50 p.m., 17th August, 1928.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 150.]

Your telegram of 16th August.* Government accepts offer

of Bellairs Atkinson for 1,000 chests at £249 per chest. Contract should be in same terms as recent contract for 500 chests with Ali Akbar so far as they are applicable. Unless you consider it likely to disorganize the market please make firm offer to Ali Akbar and Sons for supply by them of further 1,000 chests at £249 per chest as quality of first of his consignment found to be very good.

C. 53017/A/28 [No. 21].

No. 150.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.

(Paraphrase.)

(Sent 3 p.m., 18th August, 1928.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 151.]

OPIUM. I have instructed Crown Agents to accept offer of Bellairs Atkinson and conclude agreement as requested. With reference to your suggestion to make firm offer to Ali Akbar. I assume opium would be for delivery before March, 1929, but do not understand necessity for further supplies, as I understood from your telegram of 4th July that requirements until end of 1929 would be met by 1,500 chests now arranged for. I find it difficult to forecast effect of such an offer on the market, but it would certainly tend to raise prices still further. It is, therefore, extremely doubtful, whether Ali Akbar could obtain a further 1,000 chests at the price, and their competition would hamper Bellairs Atkinson who, I presume, have not yet made definite contracts with local suppliers. If, as a result,

+ No. 147.

* No. 148.

هم

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