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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

PROC.O.882/11

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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stampeded into premature action which cannot be effective and which is liable to lead to untold harm in other directions and would, moreover, actually postpone the time when really effective action might otherwise be taken.

37. If my colleagues wish to have the opportunity of discussing the position with responsible officers who have first-hand experience of the problems involved, the follow- ing are available for this purpose, and I should be glad to arrange for their attendance:-

Malaya.

(1) Mr. A. M. Pountney, C.M.G., C.B.E. Many years' experience Chinese Secretariat. Was Secretary of the Straits Opium Commission, 1908, and Chairman of the Malayan Opium Committee, 1924. From 1921, Financial Adviser to the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Govern- ments. Until his retirement in 1926 was Chairman of the Standing Opium Advisory Committee in Malaya.

(2) Mr. D. Beatty. Recently retired (vide paragraph 10 (a)). (3) Mr. A. F. Worthington. On leave (ride paragraph 10) (4)).

Hong Kong.

Mr. S. B. B. McElderry. On leave. Assistant Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong. In 1922 was attached to the Opium Section of the League of Nations Secretariat for some months to supervise the compilation of the replies to a League questionnaire on opium. Later in the same year, represented the Far Eastern Colonial Governments at an International Red Cross Con- Is to ference at Bangkok, where the subject of opium was discussed. represent Hong Kong at the forthcoming Colonial Office Conference.

C. 30811/27 [No. 16].

No. 84.

SIR L. N. GUILLEMARD) (GOVERNOR, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS and IHGH CommisstONER, FEDERATED MALAY STATES)

to

MR. L. S. AMERY (SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES).

MY DEAR AMERY,

Government House, Singapore, 16th March, 1927

I HAVE your letter of the 31st January.*

I hope it is a case of "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," but in any case

This

I take your very kindly correction in the spirit which you and I learnt at school.

As a matter of fact, I think we have a much better case than you realize. You tell me that the opium question is causing the Government at home serious anxiety. I can well believe it, and I can assure you that the same thing holds good out here. You are You have to look at the question from the Imperial point of view. committed to a definite policy. I don't know how many of the present Cabinet really believe in it, but, however that may be, you have inherited it and must carry on, comforted by the knowledge that the Imperial Exchequer is not affected. Government has to look at the question from the narrower local perspective, in which our financial position bulks large, and the position as we see it is as follows:--

Speaking generally, those best qualified to judge hold that there is not, in Malaya, any opium evil" calling for drastic or hasty remedy. The consumption of it does little harin and some good. Of course there are cases of excess, just as you have cases of delirium tremens in England; but they do not lead to crime or lunacy. The smoker simply atrophies and goes quietly out.

Informed public opinion out here does not believe in your Imperial policy as applied to Malaya. No one believes that consumption of opium in Malaya can ever be stopped. With a coast line such as we have, the whole British fleet could hardly hope to stop smuggling.

So far as opium smoking is reduced it will mean an increase of drink and con- sequent crime. Even the better class Chinese drink far too much out here, and with the lower classes drink is at the bottom of most of our crime and disturbances.

Even assuming your Imperial policy to be sound as applied to Malaya, any attempt to rush us too fast into severe restriction of opium would be resented by the

* No. 82.

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whole community, and, what really matters, would convert over a million peaceful Chinese, on whose labour depends the prosperity of this most important Colony, into bolsheviks. Believing this as I do, it is my duty to speak plainly. If I did not, should betray my trust not only to the Colony, but to you and the Imperial Govern-

ment.

Though we don't believe in your Imperial policy, we have accepted it in principle out of loyalty to the Crown, and we have taken various steps to carry it out.

We have started the Opium Revenue Replacement Fund, which is bitterly resented and is crippling our power of necessary development.

We have adopted various measures, in which we do not very much believe, intended to lead up to restriction and possible abolition of smoking. All we ask is not to be hustled, for the reason that that way lies danger.

So much for the general question.

On the special points you mention, I enclose memoranda* which will, I hope, correct some inisunderstandings and modify your views of our conduct.

As to what you say about the Colony lagging behind the Federated Malay States. the enclosed memorandum, marked A, gives the facts. In the first place the problem is much easier in the Federated Malay States and the risk of trouble from forcing the pace is much less than in Singapore. Again the Federated Malay States has plenty of State land for shops. In Singapore acquisition of land is difficult and very costly. Apart from these facts, while admitting the impeachment, I would like to point During the whole of out that there are other considerations to be borne in mind. my time here I have had the wisest of advisers in the Colony on all questions, and in this opium question I have relied especially on Pountney, who knows the problem and the difficulties from A to Z, and Marriott who is sanity personified. They may have set the pace a bit slow, but they know the dangers of any hasty action, and I have no doubt they are right. In the Federated Malay States I have had six years of Maxwell, full of push but with no judgment or reasoning power, rash, and given to stunts and self-advertisement.

"

The "observer system was all right, and I let him go ahead with it and start the list of customers" system in the Federated Malay States. It is good for shop- window decoration, but I don't think anyone can say yet how far it has succeeded or will suceed in arriving at any reliable estimate of the number of smokers.

Another scheme, which was much advertised by him, viz., special wards for trying to cure the opium habit, has proved an absolute failure and a waste of money. The ordinary type of patient is a man who is too poor to buy opium and comes in to have the craving "' cured (which can be done temporarily) and get free quarters. When they go out the craving returns, and if they have any money they revert to opium. We have, so far as I know, no proof of permanent cures.

I call your special attention to the figures of consumption, memorandum attached marked B, which will correct the idea that, judged by any fair standard, we can be described as 'increasing consumption."

will

agree

I imagine the point about Chinese immigrants learning to smoke out here is based on Chapman's evidence of which I enclose a copy, marked C. I think you that the context largely takes the force out of it.

Yours, &c.,

C. 30811/27 [Nos. 26 and 27].

No. 85.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

HONG KONG,

L. N. GUILLEMARD.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNOR

(Secret.)

SIR,

[Answered by [1] No. 93.]

Downing Street, 8th June, 1927.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of documentst relating to the general policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the control

* Not printed.

† Enclosure in No. 79, No. 80 and No. 83.

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