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PUBLIC PECORD OFFICE

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Reference -

C.O.882/12

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON:

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

30

will be seen, therefore, that there is a steady decrease in the percentage of revenue derived from opium, and it is anticipated that this decrease will continue.

7. It should be borne in mind that the whole capital expenditure of this State is met out of the surplus of ordinary revenue over expenditure.

The Secretary to

His Excellency the British Agent

for North Borneo and Sarawak,

High Commissioner's Office,

Singapore.

C. 83035/31 [No. 9].

No. 22.

J. C. SWAYNE,

I have, &c.,

Acting Chief Secretary, Sarawak.

FEDERATED MALAY STATES.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONÈR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 29th June, 1931.)

(Confidential.)

MY LORD,

>

Government House, Singapore, 31st May, 1931. I HAVE the honour to refer to paragraph 10 of my Straits Settlements Confiden-. tial (2) despatch of 15th May, 1931, on the subject of the Conference at Bangkok on Opium Smoking, and to inform Your Lordship that Mr. A. B. Jordan, Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Federated Malay States, will accompany Mr. G. E. Cator, as owing to the dissimilarity of conditions in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States, it is preferable that a representative with first-hand knowledge of conditions in the Federated Malay States should attend the Conference.

C. 83014/31 [No. 65].

(No. 481.) MY LORD,

No. 23.

CEYLON.

I have, &c.,

JOHN SCOTT,

High Commissioner.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6th July, 1931.)

Queen's House, Colombo, 17th June, 1931. WITH reference to Your Lordship's telegram dated the 30th May, 1931,† regarding the recommendations of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking, I have the honour to transmit copies of reports on the subject by the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services and the Inspector-General of Police.

* No. 19.

I have, &c.,

GRAEME THOMSON,

Governor.

† C. 83014/31 [No. 49]: not printed.

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Enclosure in No. 23.

THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECketary

(through the Inspector-General of Police),

I annex-

(a) my observations on the recommendations of the League of Nations Com-

mission Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking: (b) a memorandum on the control of opium smoking in Ceylon.

Colombo, 5th June, 1931.

R. BRIERCLIFFE, Director of Medical ano Sanitary Services.

Observations on the Recommendations of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry into the Control of Opium Smoking.

Recommendation (1)-I agree with this recommendation.

Recommendation (2).—The amount of opium smoking in Ceylon is so small that

it does not justify the expense of research into the question.

Recommendation (3).--The production of opium in Ceylon is prohibited and the climate is not suitable for the cultivation of the opium poppy.

Recommendation (4).-I agree with the first part. As regards the second part, the amount of opium smoking in Ceylon is now so small that it would not be necessary to conduct anti-opium smoking propaganda.

Recommendation (5).—This is a matter which does not directly concern the Department of Medical and Sanitary Services.

Recommendation (6).—I agree with this recommendation.

Recommendation (7).—The necessary measures have been taken and legislation is in preparation.

Recommendation (8).—The present price of smoking opium in Ceylon is two cents per grain which is probably considerably less than what smuggled opium would be sold for.

Recommendation (9). There are no opium smoking shops in Ceylon, and the sale of Government opium is carried out by Government officers in opium depots which are usually situated in the hospitals and dispensaries of the Department of Medical and Sanitary Services.

Recommendation (10).-This is already in force.

Recommendation (11).-Registration, licensing, and rationing took place in 1910. and since then there have been practically no additions to the register of opium smokers.

A medical certificate is not used nor does it appear to be necessary now.

Recommendation (12).—As only three new names have been added to the register since 1910 very few opium smokers in Ceylon are less than 50

years of age. tion 11 (1) of the Opium Ordinance No. 5 of 1910 restricted registration to adult persons.

Sec-

Recommendation (13).-As there are only 440 registered smokers and as their number is gradually diminishing, it will not be practicable to start smoking establish. ments. The opium smokers in Ceylon are permitted to smoke in their own homes.

Recommendation (14).-As there are no smoking establishments this question does not arise.

Recommendation (15).-The amount of opium issued to smokers is so small that no attempt has been made to control the dross.

Recommendation (16).-As the custom of opium smoking is dying out in Ceylon and as the number of smokers is small, special attention to the cure of smokers does not appear to be necessary.

Recommendation (17).-Monies received from, the sale of opium are credited to the general revenue. The profit for the calendar year 1929 was Rs. 167,873 from