CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918 — Page 345

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Env.myent

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

O

341

20556

RECE

[Janu5 PR18)

SECTION 1.

[13274]

No. 1.

Mr. Balfour to Mr. C. Barclay,

(No. 64.) Sir,

Foreign Office, January 29, 1918. WITH a view to preventing the smuggling of morphia and cocaine into China viâ Japan and the leased territories of Kwantung, His Majesty's Government have recently found it necessary to impose certain restrictions on the export of these commodities and their products from the United Kingdom to Japan. Under the arrangements now in force no permits to export to Japan are granted unless they are accompanied by a certificate from the Japanese Government, or from the Japanese authorities in the leased territory of Kwantung, stating that the morphia and/or cocaine is for medical purposes only, and is intended for actual consumption in Japan or the Kwantung leased territories. A copy of the notification published by the Board of Trade on the subject is enclosed herewith for your information.

The reasons which opelled His Majesty's Government to take these restrictive measures will be found in the Opium Print which is enclosed herewith for convenience of reference.

The War Trade Department have now drawn my attention to threats which are being made by Japanese importers to direct their orders to the United States in consequence of the restrictions in this country, with the result that, unless similar restrictive measures are imposed by the United States Government, the object of the regulations will be to a great extent defeated. The enclosed copy of a letter of the 21st January I have received from the War Trade Department illustrates a practical case of the difficulty which has arisen, and suggests that the matter should be brought to the notice of the War Trade Board in America, with a view to steps being taken by that bady to provide against the re-export to Japan of consigaments of opium alkaloids received from the United Kingdom.

It appears to me that, as a signatory of the Opium Convention of 1912 with China, the United States Government may fairly be asked to co-operate with His Majesty's Government in preventing the snuggling of morphia and cocaine into China via Japan; and you should therefore take an early opportunity of approaching the Secretary of State on the subject, and ascertain whether the United States Government are prepared to impose restrictions on the export of morphia and cocaine products from America to Japan similar to those at present in force in the United Kingdom.

I am, &c.

A. J. BALFOUR.

[2766 -1]