(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[33382]
No. 1.
[August 16.]
SECTION 2,
Sir,
Foreign Office to Colonial Office.
Foreign Office, August 16, 1912. WITH reference to my letter of the 28th June last enclosing copy of a despatch to His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, instructing him to make representations to the Portuguese Government on the subject of the importation of opium into Macao, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that he has again been in communication with the Marquess of Crewe on the subject of the smuggling of uncertificated opium from Macao into China, in regard to which Messrs. Sassoon had made frequent and justifiable complaints.
Lord Crewe suggested in a recent letter that an early settlement might possibly be promoted by prohibiting or restricting further consignments of opium from India to Macao as a temporary measure, and offered, if Sir E. Grey thought it desirable to take such a course, to lay the matter before the Government of India.
Sir E. Grey has caused the India Office to be informed, however, that in his opinion it would be preferable, as a first step, to instruct Sir A. Hardinge to press the Portuguese Government for a reply to the representations which have been addressed become to them, and to inform them that, if a satisfactory reply is long delayed, it may necessary for His Majesty's Government to consider the question of restricting or prohibiting consignments of opium from India to Macao.
I am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
[2604 q-2]
38
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.