CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 386

1

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

C.O

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[172112]

61262

REC

REG? 14 DEC:7

[September 3.]

SECTION 1.

No. 1.

Sir,

Home Office to Foreign Office.-(Received September 3.)

Whitehall, September 1, 1917. IN reply to your letter of the 3rd instant, I am directed to say that Secretary Sir George Cave understands that there is practically no export at present either of morphia or cocaine from the United Kingdom to China, as shown by statements of the quantities of cocaine and morphia exported to China and Japan which have been submitted by the Custom-house, of which copies are enclosed herewith for the information of Mr. Secretary Balfour, and it appears from Sir J. Jordan's despatch of the 22nd June, 1916, enclosed with your note of the 25th July, 1916, that the Chinese Government have prohibited the import of the drugs except under restrictions. It would be in accordance with the principles of The Hague Convention, and would, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, be right not to grant licences for export from the United Kingdom, except in cases where it can be shown that the necessary authority to import has been obtained from the Chinese Government, if that course is recommended by our Minister at Peking; but it should be borne in mind that the proposed restrictions on export to Japan and China would cease with the war, and even if power were obtained to continue them, they would be ineffective unless similar action were taken by other countries, as provided in The Hague Convention.

I an to say that Secretary Sir George Cave observes that Sir C. Greene's note to

the Japanese Government does not refer to cocaine.

I am furthermore to mention that an application has been received from Messrs. R. W. Greeff and Son, of Thames House, Queen Street Place, for sanction for further large amounts of cocaine being sent to Japan, and I am to ask whether, pending a reply from the Japanese Government, you wish the Home Office to act in accordance with your letter of the 26th February last.

I am, &c.

A. J. EAGLESTON.

[2729 c-1]

381