CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 79

Any further communication should be addressed to:-

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

at the address given opposite.

The following lotter and nuraber should

be quoted---

C. 158.

Telegraphic Address:

COLASTA, LONDON.

Telephone No.:---1362 Victoria.

BOARD OF TRADE,

C.A

-21877

100%

ro£ 23 JA. P

(COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT),

GWYDYR HOUSE,

WHITEHALL,

LONDON, S.W.

sir,

21st January, 1911.

acknoille

Ledge the

I am directed by the Board of Trade to acl receipt of your letter of the 6th January (No.3469/1910),

with its enclosures, relative to a suggested restriction by legislation of the exports of preparations of morphine and cocaine from the United Kingdom.

In reply, I am to state that the Board are disposed to

think that the passage at the present stage of an Act of

Parliament on the lines suggested would accomplish little in

the desired direction, for unless export from this country

to all destinations were prohibited, it would be difficult,

without international agreement, to prevent drugs reaching

their intended destination indirectly by being consigned,

for instance, from the United Kingdom to the Continent and re-shipped thence to Hong Kong. Moreover, even if the export trade of the United Kingdom in these products were to be entirely stopped, consumers in the East would still be able to obtain supplies from other sources.

In view of these considerations the Board doubt the desirability of any steps being taken with a view to legis- lation in this country unless and until an international arrangement is arrived at as the result of which it may prove possible to prevent both indirect trade in the drugs in

The Under Secretary of State,

question

Colonial Office.