CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909 — Page 117

38162

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]'

Race

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[39353]

No. 1.

Foreign Office to India Office.

[November 8.]

Sro 23 NOV 09, 116

SECTION 1.

Sir,

Foreign Office, November 8, 1909. WITH reference to your letter of the 4th August last, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter which has been received from the Edinburgh Committee for the suppression of the Indo-Chinese opium traffic, in regard to the desirability of taking steps for the immediate suspension of this traffic.*

Sir E. Grey would be glad to be favoured with Lord Morley's views in regard to the reply which should be returned to the committee.

In this connection I am to state that the Governor of Hong Kong, in a recent despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of which is enclosed,† has drawn attention to the large increase in the export of native opium from Changking, and to the abundance of the opium crop for the year, while the import of foreign opium is said to have decreased by one-half. These facts appear to Sir E. Grey to form an excellent argument against the modification of the existing arrangement between the Government of India and the Chinese Government, and Sir E. Grey is of opinion that the information furnished by Sir F. Lugard could be used with advantage in controverting the contentions put forward by the committee.

*

Edinburgh Committee, October 23, 1909.

[2494 h-1]

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL.

† Colonial Office, October 22, 1909.