CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 422

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

OPIUM.

C.O

[April 15078

421

CONFIDENTIAL..

[15350]

No. 1.

SECTION

RF 5 MAY 15!

Sir,

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received April 4.)

Downing Street, April 3, 1913. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to with

you, reference to semi-official letter to the Colonial Office of the 26th March, copy of certain papers on the subject of the importation of opium into Macao.

I am, &c.

JOHN ANDERSON.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Mr. Harcourt to Governor Sir F. May.

(Telegraphic.) P.

YOUR telegram of the 7th March.

Downing Street, March 29, 1913.

Two hundred and sixty chests were agreed upon by a conference at which Severn was present, after prolonged discussions with Portuguese representative, who was induced with difficulty to agree to this figure. The Portuguese Government decline to reduce the number to 180 chests, and attempts to insist would result in negotiations being broken off and the resumption of the present unsatisfactory position. The Indian Government have agreed to assist Macao to check smuggling by limiting the export of opium to the amounts agreed upon at the conference.

The Foreign Office are endeavouring to secure that if 260 chests prove excessive, the Portuguese will arrange for a proportionate reduction in following years.

In the circumstances I have considered it the best course to agree to free tranship- ment of opium from India for Macao under the conditions agreed to by the conference this is the only outstanding question, and it is highly desirable that an agreement should be arrived at.

I must therefore request that you will, in due course, propose a resolution admitting the importation into Hong Kong of uncertificated opium for the Macao farmer; the resolution need not come into force until the enforcement of the new opium contract at Macao in July next, and can, if you think it desirable, be framed so as to include the conditions agreed upon by the conference, a copy of which will be forwarded to you when signed.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

(Telegraphic.) P.

Governor Sir F. May to Mr. Harcourt,

Hong Kong, March 31, 1913.

It will embody the agreed-upon

YOUR telegram of the 29th March. Resolution will be introduced in due course. conditions.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1.

Governor Sir F. May to Mr. Harcourt.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Hong Kong, March 5, 1913. WITH reference to my confidential despatch of the 3rd December last, I have the honour to transmit the enclosed paraphrase of a telegram which I sent you to-day on the subject of a conversation I had recently with Senhor de Freitas, who is on his way to take up his appointment as Minister for Portugal at Peking.

[2879 d-1]

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