CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 547

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[This Document is the Property 6f. His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

10008

岳

OPIUM,

REat 16 JUN 11

[February 4.]

CONFIDENTIAL.

SECTION 2.

[4054]

(No. 21.)

(Telegraphic.) R.

No. 1.

Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.

Foreign Office, February 4, 1911.

YOUR telegram No. 24 of 28th January, Statement that requirements of non-Chinese countries are far below 16,000 chests a-year can be correct only on the supposition that considerable quantities of Indian opium have in the past been snuggled into China from Hong Kong and other non- Even if facts were as stated, it Chinese ports. This may or may not be the case. would not be a valid reason for increasing proportion of certificated opium and decreasing the uncertificated. For the present, and until the Chinese Government obtain the requisite treaty power to exclude from some future date uncertificated opium, there is and will be no distinction between certificated and uncertificated opium. "Both kinds have the right of admission into China. Hereafter, should it be found that the quantity of uncertificated Indian opium is in excess of the requirements of countries other than China, it will always be open to the Government of India to reduce the permissible amount of uncertificated export.

As the certificates apply only to Chinese treaty ports they in no way affect the right of importation in Hong Kong.

[1897 d-2]

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