[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
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23222
439
RECO [Jul2° 28 JUL TO
CONFIDENTIAL.
[24656]
No. 1.
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.-(Received July 8.)
9, Fenchurch Avenue, London, July 7, 1910. SINCE we had the honour yesterday of replying to your letter of the 1st instant, on the subject of the new tax imposed on opium by the Canton authorities, we have received cable advices to the effect that the taxation has now been extended to Swatow, another treaty port. If the withdrawal of the tax is not vigorously urged upon the Chinese Government, its extension to other treaty ports can only be a matter of a few weeks, and we beg to urge His Majesty's Government to press for such with- drawal, and to obtain assurances that similar measures will not be imposed during the period agreed upon for the importation of Indian opium into China.
The position is becoming daily more acute, and calls for immediate attention if enormous losses to British merchants are to be prevented. The Indian Government auctious still continue to be held, and merchants have to support same, if only to protect their stocks from suffering still further depreciation, as it is impossible to give up a business of this magnitude at a moment's notice.
The feeling among merchants is becoming very pronounced, that not only should the objectionable tax be withdrawn at once, but that the Chinese Government should be called upon to pay them compensation for the heavy losses already inflicted by this breach of existing treaties.
We have been requested by the merchants interested in the trade to ask that His Majesty's Government will notify the Chinese authorities that such a claim will be put forward in due course.
May we again beg that His Majesty's Government will give energetic support to our claim to carry on a legitimate trade during the remainder of the term agreed upon, without any
further hindrance on the part of Chinese provincial authorities.
We have, &c.
E. D. SASSOON AND Co.
[2812 h-1]
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