CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 77

G)

{This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's prove o

13345

Rece [ Mahebc325) (OR__||

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL,

[11776]

No. 1.

SECTION 1.

Sir,

India Office to Foreign Office.-(Reccived March 31.)

India Office, March 30, 1911.

IN continuation of my letter dated the 27th March, 1911, I ain directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward copy of a further telegram from the Government of India, and to ask that Sir John Jordan's opinion may be invited on the proposals contained in it.

I am, &c.

R. RITCHIE.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Government of India to Viscount Morley.

March 28, 1911. (Telegraphic.) P.

WITH reference to our opium telegram dated the 25th March, it will be necessary to reconsider our attitude if, in the agreement with China, it is stipulated that the exports of certified opium must in future be diminished by the quantity of uncertified opium remaining in the treaty ports on the date of closure. Such a condition would render it very important from revenue standpoint, that no interval be allowed for entry into the ports of uncertified opium of 1911, which will fetch far lower prices than the certified opium which it would supplant.

If we are permitted to give warning to merchants to move without delay into treaty ports their pre-1911 opium, we should cancel our request for period of grace and should propose to adopt suggestion that ports be closed on the 1st July. Meanwhile, we could either sell certified opium only or notily a reduction of sales outside China such as would preclude Straits merchants from diverting to China uncertified opium.

We

If acceptance of compromise proposed in telegram from Jordan, dated the 22nd March, is probable, it is clear that these changes will benefit us. They may also, for negotiation purposes, be shown to be valuable concessions to the Chinese. accordingly desire your advice and Jordan's views without delay. As the 4th April is date fixed for first auction of uncertified opium, and intimation should be given at latest by end of this week of any change, the matter is urgent.

[1900 M-1]

76

May