!
2
From information received at this legation it would appear that native opium is still being imported into Honan, and, in view of this, I regret that I am unable to agree to your Excellency's request, but I am ready, in accordance with article 4 of the 1911 agreement, to arrange for a joint inspection of the conditions of opium cultivation and importation in that province at the proper season next year on the lines of that already carried out in Shantung, Anhui, and Hunan this year.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
I avail, &c.
[57070]
J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
C.O
1926
RECR
İng: 17 JAN 14
[December 31.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
Foreign Office, December 31, 1913. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 10th November, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before the Secretary of State for India, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking,* in which he reports on the disposal of the stocks of certificated Indian opium during the past year and comments at length on the prospects for the future.
Sir J. Jordan estimates the requirements of countries other than China at 9,000 chests of Indian opium for 1914, and he considers it probable that any uncertificated opium in excess of this amount which may be put upon the market will be smuggled into China. The difficulties attending the disposal of the accumulated stocks are already very great, and Sir E. Grey would deprecate strongly any measure which might tend to aggravate them,
I am therefore to suggest, for the Marquess of Crewe's consideration, that it might be advisable once more to urge upon the Government of India the undesirability of offering for sale in 1914 an amount of uncertificated opium which is likely to exceed the requirements of non-China markets.
I am,
&c.
W. LANGLEY.
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 450, December 3, 1913.
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