CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 246

Chunartove) a'chap M ohumdak ud i zhnqond af at tususvelt ab!?!

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

94

OPIUM,

CONFIDENTIAL.

110371

[March 14)

SECTION 1.

MA 12

243

No. 1.

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received March 14.)

(Confidential.)

Downing Street, March 13, 1912. Sir,

WITH reference to the letter from this department of the 19th February, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir E. Grey, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements with regard to shipments of opium to Macao. I am to enclose also a copy of a telegram sent to Sir Arthur Young on the 28th February before his despatch was received.

2. Even allowing for the fact that opium required for export to Mexico is transhipped at Macao (a point which is referred to in the letters from this department of the 31st January, 1912, and the 16th November, 1911), the amount exported from the Straits Settlements appears to be in excess of any possible requirements for legitimate purposes, but Mr.Harcourt proposes to defer further action pending the Governor's reply to the telegram of the 28th February,

I am, &c.

G. V. FIDDES.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Enclosure 1' in No. 1.

Sir A. Young to Mr. Harcourt.

Government House, Singapore, February 6, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to forward a copy of a letter received from the superin- tendent of the Government Monopolies, reporting that two large shipments of uncer- tified opium altogether in excess of the ordinary requirements of Macao had recently been made to that place, and suggesting that so large a quantity could not be intended for legitimate purposes.

2. On the 22nd January a further shipment to Macao of 150 chests of uncertified opium was reported, and I then thought it advisable to address a letter to His Britannic Majesty's consul-general at Canton, asking him to assist this Government by obtaining such information as is possible as to the object of the accumulation of so large a stock of opium.

take

any

it

3. Pending the receipt of a reply from the consul-general I do not propose to further action in the matter, but should these shipments continue, and should it appear on further enquiry that the opium is being exported for illicit purposes, will become necessary to consider in what manner the revenue of the colony may best be protected from what must prove a very serious loss.

I have, &c.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

ARTHUR YOUNG.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Mr. Baddeley to Colonial Secretary, Sierra Leone.

Government Monopolies Department, Singapore, December 14, 1911.

I HAVE the honour to bring to your notice the following facts:--

2. On the 2nd November last the Netherlands Trading Society applied for and obtained a permit to export 160 chests of uncertified Indian opium to Macao direct by steam-ship "Johaune" (under German flag). Such a proceeding was so extra- ordinary that I drew your attention to it, and you approved of a letter I sent to the acting consul for Portugal (M. Spakler), drawing his attention to the fact, and requesting him to wire to the Macao authorities, which he did. On the 28th November

[2412 -1]