CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 39

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

C

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[33382]

No, L.

[August 16.]

SECTION 1.

Sir,

Foreign Office to India Office.

Foreign Office, August 16, 1912.

I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant respecting the losses alleged to have been sustained by Messrs. Sassoon and other firmus engaged in the China opium trade.

I view of Lord Crewe's expression of opinion to that effect, Sir E. Grey considers that it is unnecessary to reply to Messrs. Sassoon's letter of the 19th ultimo."

As regards the importation of Indian opium into Macao, Ilis Majesty's Minister at Lisbon has been instructed to press the Portuguese Governincut for a reply to the representations which he was requested to make in the Foreign Office despatch of the 28th June, copy of which was forwarded to the India Office in the letter from this department of the same date, and he has been instructed to aid that if a satisfactory reply is long delayed it may become necessary for His Majesty's Government to consider the question of restricting or prohibiting consignments of opium from India to Macao.

In these circumstances Sir E. Grey is of opinion that it would be preferable to defer the proposed temporary restrictive measures by the Government of India until a reply has been received from Sir A Hardinge.

I am, &c.

W. LANGLEY.

[2604 q-1]

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