CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4] — Page 15

Jonolvour.-1.

PARAPHRASE Cypher telegram from Hongkong 5/3/13.

Chapelries

C.O.

10720

REC?

London REG 31 MAR 13

In continuation of my confidential despatch of 3rd. December

I beg to inform you that I had an unofficial conference

with Senor de Freitas, Portuguese Minister en route for

Peking, who was desired by his Government to discuss the limitations to be placed on imports of opium into Macao for the use of the opium farmer on the expiry in July 1913)

of the present contract. Senor de Freitas urged the

following allowance : 300 cheats for local consumption and 240 for export trade per annum. I insisted that the

maximum amounts which my Government could allow as

reasonable are 180 chests for local consumption and 240 chests per annum for export to Mexico per me with the proviso that export would be permissible only on production of certificates from that Government allowing import.

The Hongkong opium farmer informed me confidentially

for the information of Senor de Freitas as to the financial

effects of such limitations, that he would be prepared

to offer $400,000 for the Macao farm on those conditions.

The Macao Government at present receive only $140,000 per

auum rental. It is hoped that you will make such

representations to the Portuguese Governmetn as will

induce them to accept these figures of mine.

I am

sending full details by mail.

May

14