[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
[November 28.]
549
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 1.
[AMENDED COPY.]
со
[47773]
No. 1.
2546
Sir,
Foreign Office to Home Office.
JAN 12 1 Foreign Office, November 28, 1911. AS you are doubtless aware, His Majesty's Government, in replying to the invitation of the United States Government to attend a conference on the opium question, laid it down as a condition of their participation that the conference should thoroughly and completely deal with the question of restricting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of morphia and cocaine.
The British delegates are being instructed that this is a subject to which His Majesty's Government attach especial importance, in view of the spread of the morphia and cocaine habit in India, in China, and in other Eastern countries, and that as Indian and Chinese experience shows that legislation against the importation of morphia and cocaine cannot be made thoroughly effective owing to the ease with which it can be evaded in practice, it becomes desirable to secure co-operation on the part of the Governments concerned in the shape of control over the manufacture and distribution. They will therefore use their best efforts to obtain the assistance of the Governments represented at the conference to this end.
The British delegates, with a view to being in a position to lay before the conference some practical suggestions as to the method in which the desired control upon the trade in morphia and cocaine might be obtained, held a meeting at this Office with representatives of the Board of Trade and the Board of Custons and Excise, and the result of their deliberatious is embodied in the enclosed minute containing suggestions for the guidance of the delegates on this question.
During the discussion it became apparent that there were points on which the delegates would require information and advice from the Home Office, and I am therefore directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to request that you will lay these suggestions before the Secretary of Stato for the Home Department and favour him with any remarks that Mr. McKenna may wish to offer thereon and any information that he thinks might prove of assistance to the British delegates.
I am especially to enquire whether the sale of morphia and cocaine to unauthorised persons is not already subject to restrictions, in accordance with suggestion 3.
As the Opium Conference opens at The Hague on the 1st December, Sir Edward Grey would be pleased to receive an early reply.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Measures proposed by His Majesty's Government for the regulation of the manufacture of, and trade in, Morphia and Cocaine.
1. That all manufacturers of and dealers in morphia and cocaine should be required to take out a licence. Persons manufacturing or dealing in the above articles without licence shall be liable to penalty.
2. All such manufacturers and dealers will be required to keep a record of all transactions in such drugs, including the names and addresses of all persons from whom they obtain or to whom they sell them and the quantity involved in each transaction. This record shall be open to inspection and verification by a Government officer.
3. It is advisable to prohibit the sale of these drugs except to persons authorised
to purchase the same by licence or otherwise.
4. The Customs shall be empowered to detain imported consignments, except in transit, of the above drugs until satisfied that the consignee is a licensed manufacturer or dealer or a person duly authorised to receive the drugs.
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