CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 39

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

CO 23533

Rece R18 JU 1!

OPIUM.

[June 1.]

な

CONFIDENTIAL.

SHOTION 3.

[21145]

Sir,

India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received Juno 1.)

No. 1.

India Office, May 31, 1911.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, in continuation of Sir T. Holderness's letter dated the 23rd May, 1911, a copy of a telegram dated the 27th May, 1911, from the Government of India on the subject of the sales of Bengal opium.

It will be observed that the Government of India propose to commence in July the sale of uncertified opiun. I am to suggest that Sir J. Jordan should be advised of this, and asked whether he has any observations to make.

Enclosure in No. 1.

I have, &c.

R. RITCHIE.

From the Government of India to the Earl of Crewe,

(Telegraphic.) P.

WITH reference to your telegram dated the 18th May,

May 27, 1911.

Question of decreasing opium sales for markets outside China is being carefully examined by us, but we should prefer to defer recommendations until after the auction in July, at which only uncertified opium will be sold. Careful consideration has also been given to the points dealt with towards the close of your telegram. The area licensed for cultivation in Bengal will most likely be diminished to 325,000 bighas next winter.

2. The Calcutta sale announced for June cannot now be cancelled. At that sale only 2,620 chests of certified opium will be offered, and the difficulties in China cannot be materially increased by this quantity, which is small relatively to the exports of Malwa opium, which we are unable to defer. Frequent changes have already upset the trade, and any alteration in the arrangements for June is, we consider, most inadvisable. We shall, however, keep till the last quarter of year the balance of certified opium available.

[2066 - -31

38