CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 506

8854/08

sir,

Enclosure

ho..

love House.

17th. December,

500

With reference to Your Excellency's letter

of the 30th. of last October I have the honour to transmit,

at the request of the signatories, copy of a letter address

-ed by them to the Colonial Secretary dated the 9th.instant

and a copy of a letter addressed by them to Wis Britannic

Majesty'a Acting Consul General, Canton dated the 23rd, of

last Septembar on the subject of the action of the Provin-

cial Government which it is alleged will have the affect of

restricting the sale of imported opiw.

2.

While agreeing with Your Excellency that it

is doubtful whether the Regulations introduced by the Can-

ton Provincial Authorities for the control of the trade in

raw opium can be regarded as doine more than reproducing

the rules framed for the enforcement of the opium edint of

September 20th, 1905, it appears to me that those rules

were themselves in some respects a violation of British

treaty rights, and cannot therefore where conflicting with

such rights be pleaded in justification of provincial pro-

clamations.

I have the honour to ha,

sir,

Your Excellency's most obediant

Bervant,

Hia Britannis Majesty's Minister,

PRKIN G.

Governor,&c.