CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 576

in

order that lie Kajeaty's

583

*, possibly erroneous, that

+ His Majesty's Ambassador “Jokyo wes

at to me his telegram No. 67 t Your Lord-

Commercial

ve forward a copy of his despatch Ho, 38 on the general

question of the muggling of these narcotics into Chias. In

these papers Sir Conyngham freme alluded to the etrange die—

orepancy between the figures of the import of morphine inte

Japan from the United Kingdom that was revealed by the publish-

ed statistics insued by the Japanese and the British authorities

respectively. So far as I am aware noeexplanation has ever been

given of this discrepancy and it seme to me important for the

good name of Great Britain that there should be no further doubt

on the subject. The discrepancy has already astraated the at-

tention of the international Anti-Upium Jociety and the are

understand, taking motive steps to investigate it.

I am aware that His knjusty's Government have already

taken some steps to control the exort of these drugs to Japan

and I presume to other destinatione also - with a view to limit-

ing their use to legitimate medioal purposes. but there is

reason to fear that there exists still some loophole through