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that he concurs in the terms of the draft telegrams and despatches which it is proposed to address to His Majesty's Representatives at Paris, Lisbon, The Hague, Washington, Tokio, and Bangkok regarding the recommendation contained in the Report of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into Opium Smoking in the Far East con- cerning preventive measures, and representation at the Opium Conference to be held at Bangkok in November.

2. The Secretary of State agrees with Mr. Henderson's views regarding the repre- sentation of the United States of America and China at the Conference.

3. A copy of this letter is being sent to the Home Office and to the India Office

C. 83014/31 [No. 39].

No. 8.

I am, &c.,

WALTER D. ELLIS.

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central intelligence bureau in every territory. Preventive services in all the territories in the Far East should keep in constant touch and exchange information regarding illicit traffic. Sufficient funds for the preventive services should be allotted from the opium revenue.

14

Both fines and terms of imprisonment should be the punishment for offences having the character of illicit traffic. An attempt to induce a minor to smoke opium should be made an offence punishable with a heavy penalty. It is desirable that the same severity should be applied in all Far Eastern territories in regard to penalties for opium offences."

Please ascertain from Government to which you are accredited whether they are prepared to instruct their Colonial administrations affected to co-operate on the lines of the above recommendation with the British administrations concerned.

You should also ascertain as regards the Opium Conference to be held in Bangkok next November under Article 12 of the Geneva Opium Agreement of 1925, whether Government to which you are accredited consider that the representatives of govern- ments at the conference should be plenipotentiaries with power to sign a Convention if desired. In the view of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom if the conference reaches agreement on new measures it will be undesirable that it should terminate without embodying them in a convention.

Please reply by telegram.

FOREIGN OFFICE to THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, LEAGUE OF NATIONS (Copy received in Colonial Office, 18th April, 1931.)

SIR,

Foreign Office, S.W.1, 16th April, 1931. WITH reference to your letter of 28th February last regarding the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking in the Far East, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Henderson to inform you that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are giving careful consideration to this report in consultation with the Governments of the British dependencies concerned, but that having regard to the delays necessarily involved in correspondence with territories so distant they fear that it will not be possible for them to comply with the request in your letter under reference to communicate to you their observations on the report by the 1st July, 1931. They will, however, not fail to communicate to you their observations as soon as circumstances permit.

I am, &c..

C. 83014/31 [No. 40].

No. 9

FOREIGN OFFICE

to

C. W. ORDE.

[1] HIS MAJESTY'S REPRESENTATIVE, TOKIO (No. 59).

[2] HIS MAJESTY'S REPRESENTATIVE, Bangkok (No. 20).

(Sent 5.50 p.m., 23rd April, 1931.)

TELEGRAM.

(Copy received in Colonial Office, 25th April, 1931.) [Answered [2] by No. 16.]

FOLLOWING is one of the recommendations contained in the Report of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into Opium Smoking in the Far East :-

"If illicit traffic is temporarily suppressed in one place it will inevitably reappear in another. No preventive measures will altogether stop the flow of illicit opium while it exists in abundance and offers large profits to smugglers. Until the efforts to limit and control poppy cultivation have been successful effective steps must be taken to combat the illicit traffic.

44

For this purpose, the different governments should organize on a common- plan the existing national preventive services, increase the personnel and provide additional equipment, such as fast motor launches and coast-guard steamers. Special preventive flying squadrons' would offer the advantage of quick action. To ensure close co-operation in preventive work it should be directed by a single

* No. 2.

C. 83014/31 [No. 40A).

SIR,

No. 10.

FOREIGN OFFICE to HIS MAJESTY'S REPRESENTATIE AT

[1] PARIS (No. 952)

F21 LISBON (No. 178)

31 THE HAGUE (No. 213).

41 WASHINGTON (No. 547).

(Copy received in Colonial Office 25th April, 1931).

[Answered [2] by No. 14 and [4] by No. 27.]

Foreign Office, S.W.1, 23rd April, 1981.

I HAVE to invite your attention to the following recommendation contained in the Report of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into Opium Smoking in the Far East.

"If illicit traffic is temporarily

[See No. 9]

for opium offences.' 2. I shall be glad if you will ascertain from the [To [1] [2] and [3] : Govern- ment to which you are accredited] [To [4]: United States Government] and report to me as early as possible whether they are prepared to instruct [To [1] [2] and [3]: their Far Eastern administration] [To [4]: Government of the Philippines] to co- operate on the lines of the above recommendation with the British Colonial adminis- tration concerned.

[To [1] [2] and [3]: 3. I shall be glad if you will likewise ascertain and report to me as regards the Opium Conference to be held in Bangkok next November under Article 12 of the Geneva Opium Agreement of 1925, whether the Government to which you are accredited consider that the representatives of Governments at the Con- ference should be plenipotentiaries. In the view of His Majesty's Government, if the Conference reaches agreement on new measures it will be undesirable that it should terminate without embodying them in a convention for the signature of which, if a fresh Conference is to be avoided, representatives will require to possess full powers.]

-I am, &c.

(for the Secretary of State). -

C. W. ORDE.

PUBLIC RECORD OFTICE

הוד

Reference -

C.O.882/12

PUBLIC AFCORD OFFICE, LONGON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPH-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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