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K 84

Enclosure 3 in No 56.

NOTE BY THE GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY ANALYST.

i AM afraid my examination went no further than to establish the fact that morphine was carried over in the opium smoke and inhaled by the opium smoker. Other constituents are tarry matter, products of the partial carbonisation of the opium itself and probably decomposition products of the opium alkaloids. If a full examination of the smoke is required, might I suggest that it be carried out in Vienna together with that of the heroin pills. Morphine is carried over in the smoke from the pills and a detailed examination of both on similar lines would be extremely interesting if carried out under strict smoking conditions. It is fairly certain that it is not only the nicotine (a more deadly and volatile alkaloid than morphine) which is appreciated in tobacco smoke and it is probable that something similar will be discovered as regards opium. Opium dross is liable to vary with the smoker and as some smoke to carbonise the opium more than others the resulting dross may be a gummy and resinous mass or almost dry granules which can be easily crushed or powdered. It has an odour which is very rank (due to pyridine or some allied substance) and of course the odour varies with the extent to which the opium has been smoked. There is no definite test as to its character but after the smoke examination has been carried out it may be possible to do something in the matter.

<

>

H. ALAN TAYLOR,

Assistant Superintendent of Imports and Exports

14044/38 [No. 5.]

85

No. 58.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Confidential.)

SIR.

Downing Street, 14th December, 1933. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 10th of August* on the subject of the introduction of new measures for the control of opium smoking in the Straits Settlements, and to express my appreciation of the steps which it is proposed to take in the matter.

14044/33 [No. 6.]

No. 59.

I have, &c.,

P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER.

1

Superintendent of Imports and Exports.

14028/1/33 [No. 15].

SIR,

No. 57.

and Monopoly Analyst.

14th February, 1933.

FOREIGN OFFICE to NETHERLANDS MINISTER.

(Copy received in Colonial Office, 8th November, 1933.)

(No. F. 6866/1780/87.)

Foreign Office, S.W.1, 6th November, 1933. WITH reference to your note No. 1282 of the 5th September last* respecting the question of transit through the ports of Singapore and Penang of prepared opium shipped from one port of the Netherland East Indies to another, I have the honour to state that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have no objection to the further modifications proposed in your note to the declaration to be made by the Netherlands Government to the other parties to the Prepared Opium Agreement of 1925.

2. The Government of India to whom the draft note in its final form has been submitted, have also expressed their concurrence in its terms.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT

(Confidential.)

SIR,

to

THE SECRETARY OF STATE

(Received 29th January, 1934.)

Government House, Singapore, 3rd January, 1934. WITH reference to paragraph 5 of your Straits Settlements despatch No. 52 dated the 8th of February, 1933,† and in continuation of my confidential despatch of the 8th [10th] of August, 1933,* I have the honour to inform you that the Registers for Chandu Smokers will be closed finally on the 31st of December, 1934, except for persons who are certified by a registered medical practitioner to require chandu for reasons of health.

2. I attach copies of the relevant Gazette notifications.

I have, &c.,

A. CALDECOTT,

Officer Administering the Government.

,

&c.

I have, &c.,

A. W. G. RANDALL.

Jonkheer R. de Marees van Swinderen, G.C.V.O.,

&c.,

&o..

* Enclosure in No. 55.

PUBLIC

PECORD OFFICE

Reference --

lilil

C.O.882/12

Enclosure in No. 59.

STRAITS SETTLéments Government Gazette, 1ST DECEMBER, 1933.

No. 2277.--Ordinance No. 117 (Chandu Revenue)

Ir is hereby notified that in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 40 (1) (j) of Ordinance No. 117 (Chandu Revenue) the Governor in Council has decided that the Registers for Chandu Smokers introduced under the authority of the rules for the Registration of Chandu Smokers, published as Notification No. 201 in the Gazette

* No. 53.

↑ No. 47.

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

AE

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |