CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 372

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j

369

CO

27903

RECE

Rrst 25 AUG 11

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[31295]

No. 1.

[August 8.]

SECTION 3.

Sir,

Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. and Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.- (Received August 8.)

9, Fenchurch Avenue, London, August 5, 1911.

WE thank you for your letter of the 28th ultimo, and note that the Viceroy of the province of Fukion has now complied with the instructions issued to him by the Chinese Government for the removal of the restrictions complained of.

We beg to bring to your notice that the Government of India has notified the trade that for the year 1912 the sales of opium will probably be restricted to 6,000 chests certificated and 14,000 chests uncertificated.

May we urge His Majesty's Government to represent to the Government of India the desirability of further reducing the quantity of uncertificated opium to 10,000 chests, as the Straits Settlements cannot absorb more than that quantity, and any excess is certain to be smuggled into China, to the detriment of the legitimate trade.

At the auctions held in Calcutta this week certificated Patna opium averaged 3,261 rupees per chest, while uncertificated Patna realised only 1,723 rupees. Certificated Benares averaged 3,182 rupees and uncertificated 1,620 rupees.

At these

heavy differences in price the temptation to smuggle will be very strong, and we would urge, therefore, that the quantity of uncertificated opium offered for sale next year may not exceed that which can be absorbed by the Straits Settlements.

We have, &c.

E. D. SASSOON AND Co. DAVID SASSOON AND Co.

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