CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 18

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[July 29.]

SECTION 2.

[32081]

No. 1.

Colonial Office to Foreign Officc.-(Received July 29.)

(Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, July 27, 1912.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, with reference to letter to the Colonial Office of the 28th June, copy of despatches from and to the Governor of the Straits Settlements on the subject of the prohibition of the export of opium to Macao,

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

I am, &c.

JOHN ANDERSON.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Governor Sir A. Young to Mr. Harcourt.

Singapore, June 4, 1912. WITH reference to Mr. Bryant's Secret despatch of the 22nd April, 1912, aud previous Confidential correspondence regarding the shipment of opium to Macao, I have the honour to enclose for your information copies of correspondence which has passed between the acting consul for Portugal in Singapore and this Government.

2. I now learn that 200 chests, presumably the latter of the 200 chests referred to in the despatch of 22nd April last, have been shipped this month by R. N. Elias and Hurdatroi Chamria from Calcutta direct for the Government of Macao, and it is further reported that instructions have been received in Calcutta to buy 500 chests for Macao at the next auction. It appears, therefore, that there have been shipped to Macao since the 1st November last 635 chests from Singapore and 400 chests from Calcutta, and that orders have been received in Calcutta to purchase a further 500 chests at the next auction. It will be remembered that on the 1st August, 1911, the Governor of Hong Kong reported to you by telegraph that the "actual maximum requirements of Macao and Kwang Chow Wan are estimated at 120 chests and 36 chests per annuin respectively.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

ARTHUR YOUNG.

Acting Portuguese Consul, Singapore, to Acting Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.

Sir,

Singapore, May 16, 1912.

THE Colonial Secretary of Macao, confirming his letter of the 23rd March, of which I had the honour to hand you a copy, writes again requesting me to insist with the Singapore Government for the withdrawal of the prohibition of exporting opium from this colony to Macao, which, after the given explanations, his Excellency the Governor of Macao does not consider justified, and which, more for its unpleasant aspect than for its consequences, is much regretted.

I shall thank you for requesting his Excellency the governor to kindly reconsider the question and to withdraw the prohibition if possible.

[2549 -2]

I have, &c.

G. PERTILE,

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