CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 384

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be with the Sikhs, who are recruited in considerable numbers for police and military purposes; but with a fairly liberal allowance for medical necessities, "it may be possible to enforce a general prohibition in respect to this class also.

4. With reference to resolution 3, the Government of India do not at present see any necessity to recast the existing systems for the regulation of the traffic in opium in this country, which are the result of many years' experience. They are, however, of opinion that the preventive and fiscal arrangements should be rendered increasingly stringent, and in this view I am to suggest that the question of raising the issue price of opium may be taken into consideration and form the subject of a report.

5. In connection with this resolution the Shanghai Commission have also recorded, in the minutes of their proceedings, an expression of the views of the Netherlands delegation to the effect "that the opium business in its entirety should be managed in such a way that no person concerned in the management be interested in the amount of sale, and that the establishment of such a way of managing should not be put off longer than the circumstances require." This opinion is based on experience of official, vend in Netherlands India. With reference to paragraph 4 of the letter from this department dated the 16th March, 1907, 1 am to request that the Government of India may be favoured with an expression of the present opinion of his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor as to the advisability or otherwise of starting a system of official vend in Lower and Upper Burmah.

Sir,

I have, &c.

W. M. HAILEY, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1,

Government of India to Government of Madras.*

Simla, October 25, 1909. I AM directed to forward a copy of the despatch from the Secretary of State for India dated the 6th August, 1909, and of its enclosure, on the subject of the resolutions adopted by the International Opium Commission which met at Shanghai.

2. It will be observed that the Secretary of State has asked for a statement of the action which the Government of India propose to take in regard to the resolutions numbered Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Of these Nos. 4, 5, and 6 do not call for present report from local governments.

3. As regards resolution 2, I am to refer to the correspondence communicated with the letter from this department dated the 17th August, 1897, and to request that the Government of India may be furnished with a report on the possibility and desirability, in present circumstances, of taking legislative action against opium-smoking clubs and dens. I am also to inquire whether it is possible to reduce the amount of smoking preparations individually or collectively in Madras.

4. With reference to resolution 3, the Government of India do not at present see any necessity to recast the existing systems for the regulation of the traffic in opium in this country, which are the result of many years' experience. They are, however, of opinion that the preventive and fiscal arrangements should be rendered increasingly stringent, and in this view I am to suggest that the question of raising the issue of opium may be taken into consideration and form the subject of a report.

I have, &c.

W. M. HAILEY,

prices

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India,

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Enclosure 4 in No. 1.

Government of India to Government of Madras.*

(Sir,

Simla, May 26, 1910. IN continuation of the letter from this department dated the 25th October, 1909, I am directed to forward two copies each of vols. i and ii of the proceedings of the International Opium Commission which met at Shanghai. The Government of India have now carefully examined the proceedings, and find themselves in cordial agreement with the general principles embodied in the resolutions. They are anxious that those of the recommendations which relate to internal administration should receive the fullest consideration, and I am accordingly to request they may be favoured with the detailed opinion of his Excellency the Governor in Council in respect of resolutions 2, 3, and 4.

2. The first of these resolutions sets forth the desirability of the gradual suppression of the practice of opium smoking.

The Government of India have already addressed you on this subject, and have nothing to add to the remarks contained in the previous letter.

This practice has never been generally adopted in India; it is discouraged by public opinion, and the Government of India have followed a severely restrictive policy in the matter. The underlying aim of this policy has throughout been ultimate prohibition, and the time has now come to consider the possibility of realising this ideal. I am therefore to ask particularly for a report on the feasibility of enforcing, within a reasonable period, a direct and unqualified prohibition of the practice of opium smoking,

3. The third resolution of the commission suggests the desirability of re-examining existing systems for the regulation of the traffic in opium. The Government of India fully endorse the opinion expressed by the British delegates at Shanghai, that the entire abolition of the use of the drug is not, in the present conditions of India, a question of practical politics. They wish, however, to make a serious attempt to ascertain whether the existing regulations and methods of administration are sufficiently restrictive, and are disposed to think that it would be possible to make a decided advance in the direction of controlling consumption. In requesting a general expression of opinion on this point, I am to invite special attention to the present system of retail vend, and to enquire whether, in the view of his Excellency the Governor in Council, it does not admit of modifications which would facilitate such control.

4. With regard to resolution 4, the Government of India are prepared to prohibit, under section 19 of the Sea Customs Act, the exports of opium, its derivatives, and its bye-products, to all countries which forbid their imports. I am to ask for an expression of opinion with regard to the measures which should be taken to render the prohibition effective.

I have, &c.

J. S. MESTON, Secretary to the Government of India.

Copy of the correspondence forwarded to the Department of Commerce and Industry.

By order,

J. E. C. JUKES, Under Secretary to the Government of India.

* Also to the Government of Bombay, Government of Bengal, Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam, Government of the United Provinces, Government of the Punjab, Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces, Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province, Chief Commissioner of Ajmer-mer wara, Chief Commissioner of Coorg, and Chief Commissioner of Baluchistan, mututis mutandis.

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* Also to the Government of Bombay, Government of Bengal, Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam, Government of the United Provinces, Government of the Punjab, Government of Burmah, Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces, Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province, Chief Commissioner of Ajmer-merwara, Chief Commissioner of Coorg, and Chief Commissioner of Baluchistan, mutatis mutandis.

† Resolutions 2, 3, and 4 to Maritime Governments only; resolutions 2 and 3 to Non-maritime Governments.

To Burmah only.

$ To all except Burmah.

Maritime Governments only.

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