CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12] — Page 413

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export of accumulated stocks. It was found that the

consequences would be serious if the same ratio of

reduction were enforced in respect of Malwa and Bengul

opium, and that the supply of Bengal opium could be

more easily curtailed. The latter is a Govertimen t

monopoly, the stocks of opium ure in Government hands,

and the poppy crop is of less agricultural importance

in British India than in Malwa. The distribution

which was finally arrived at, which favours Malwa

opium at the expense of Bengal opian, is against the

financial interests of the British India Goverrunent,

and was adopted as the only equitable way of dealing

with the important interests of a large number of

native states. Lord Morley regreta that he cannot

hold out hopes that the decision will be re-considered.

From such information as is available in this

Office as to the prices of opium in the Hong Kong

market it would appear that Malwa opium has risen in

price equally with Bengal opium. Sir F.Lugard's

despatch