:
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[30773]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
[July 25.]
SECTION 2.
Sir,
Foreign Office, July 25, 1912. WITH reference to your letter of the 10th instaut, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith copy of a letter which has been addressed to Messrs: Sassoon on the subject of the losses which they have sustained through the illegal restrictions placed by the Chinese authorities on the Indian opium trade, together with a copy of their reply protesting against certain statements made in the letter to them from this department, and suggesting that the only real remedy against smuggling is for the Indian Government to reduce the sales of uncertificated opium.
I am to enquire what reply, if any, the Marquess of Crewe desires returned to the contentions of Messrs. Sassoon, that the merchants are not responsible for the magnitude of the losses complained of.
At the same time, I am to draw your special attention to Messrs. Sassoon's complaint as to the increase in the smuggling of uncertificated opium from Macao into China. I am to remind you that His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon has been instructed to represent to the Portuguese Government that the Macao authorities should restrict the importation of opium into the colony, and I am to enquire whether it would not be possible to take some steps towards meeting the wishes of the opium merchants for a reduction of the amount of uncertificated opium exported from India.
1 am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
* To Messrs. Sassoon. July 15; Messrs, Sassoon, July 19, 1912.
[2549 bb---2],
12
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.