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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.co.
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[26147]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Messrs. Sassoon.
16 JUN 12
[June 25.]
SECTION 1.
Gentlemen,
your
Foreign Office, June 25, 1912. I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you that the Government of India have now carefully considered in all its bearings the request made by you in letter of the 30th ultimo that the Bombay and Calcutta sales of opium may be suspended until the Chinese Government have been induced to carry out their treaty obligations.
The Government of India are unable to entertain this request. They point out that the sales are held in accordance with public announcements made at the beginning of the year, and that the Government have undertaken in the published conditions of sale to make no change in the number of chests to be sold in each month or in the terms of sale without giving three months' notice of their intention. They add that, with the exception of one Bengal sale on the 24th September, the sales in 1912 of Malwa and Bengal opium for the China market will be completed within three months from now.
His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been instructed to make strong representations to the Chinese Government with a view to securing the enforcement in the offending provinces of their treaty obligations.
I am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
[2519 bb-1]
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