[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
REC2.
January 22. REG 20 APRJ8N 1.
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
со
[13274]
No. 1.
331
Sir,
Board of Trade to Foreign Office.-(Received January 22.)
Board of Trade, January 21, 1918. WITH reference to your letter of the 11th January, enclosing copy of a letter from the War Trade Departinent regarding the restrictions at present in force with respect to exports of opium alkaloids from the United Kingdom to Japan, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for Mr. Secretary Balfour's information, iu reply to the enquiry in the concluding paragraph of your letter, that the United States are not dependent upon this country or any other foreign country for any substantial portion of their supplies of morphia. They are, on the contrary, large manufacturers of morphia from imported opium, the major portion of which, before the war, was imported directly from Turkey, and I am to enclose herewith a table marked (A) showing their total imports of opium (containing 9 per cent. and over of morphia) during the years 1912 to 1916, together with the amounts derived from the principal sources of supply.
The recorded exports and re-exports of morphia and its salts from the United Kingdom to the United States are very small, and are shown in the enclosed table marked (B). There would appear to be no official statistics available with regard to the exports of morphia from the United States to Japan or elsewhere.
The Board would, however, suggest, for Mr. Balfour's consideration, that in view of the risk that exports of morphia to the United States for which an export licence has been obtained might be deviated to Japan, and also with a view to securing American co-operation in the efforts of His Majesty's Government to check the illicit trade with Japan in opium alkaloids, the United States War Trade Board should be made aware of the steps which have been taken to this end, and should be asked whether they are prepared to adopt similar measures in regard both to the exports of domestic manufactures and to re-exports. Similar measures might also be suggested with regard to cocaine.
I am, &c.
H. FOUNTAIN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
(4.)
TABLE showing Imports into United States of Opium containing 9 per cent, and over of Morphia. Years ended June 30.
Country.
1912.
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
Ib.
lb.
Ib.
ib.
໙.
Total importa
899,887
508,483
455,200
484,027
146,658
Of which from-
Germany
42.348
26,245
82.839
52
Greece
2,940
46,367
Turkey in Europe
141,886
209,413
160,514
228,162
18.044
United Kingdom
82,782
61.782
39.372
38,25%
62,665
Turkey in Asia
132,826
210,993
222,975
212,367
14,239
[2766 y--1]
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