CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 411

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.7407

40

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[23693)

No. 1.

[June 3.]

25 JUL 12

SECTION 1,

Colonial Ofice to Foreign Office.-(Received June 3.)

Sir,

Downing Street, June 1, 1912. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, with reference to letter from the Colonial Office of the 11th September, 1911, copy of despatches from and to the India Office ou the subject of the importation of Persian and Turkish opium into Hong Kong.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

I am, &c.

JOHN ANDERSON.

Sir,

India Ofice to Colonial Office.

India Office, May 7, 1912.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to State, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Government of India have enquired whether, in view of the prohibition of the importation of Turkish and Persian opium into China from the 1st January last, the importation of these varieties of opium into Hong Kong is now prohibited, as the importation of uncertificated Indian opium has been prohibited since the 1st September last. They refer in this connection to Sir J. Jordan's telegram to Sir Edward Grey, No. 184 of the 28th August last, a copy of which was no doubt communicated to your department.

I am to ask you that, with Mr. Secretary Harcourt's permission, this department may be informed as to the answer to be made to the Government of India's enquiry.

I am, &c.

T. W. HOLDERNESS.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Sir,

Colonial Office to India Office.

Douming Street, May 10, 1912.

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th May, and to request you to inform the Secretary of State for India in Council that, so far as he is aware, the importation of Turkish and Persian opium into Hong Kong has not yet been prohibited.

2. The Government of India might more conveniently obtain further information by corresponding direct with the Government of Hong Kong, and I am to suggest that that course should be adopted, unless the Marquess of Crewe would prefer that enquiry should be made by this Office.

I am, &c.

H. J. READ.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1.

India Office to Colonial Office,

Sir,

India Office, May 21, 1912.

IN reply to Mr. Read's letter, dated the 10th May, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to say that, if Mr. Secretary Harcourt has no objection, his Lordship would be glad if the information asked for by the Government of India as to whether the importation of Turkish and Persian opium into Hong Kong is now

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