CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 669

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[154941]

No. 1.

[November 24.]

SECTION 1.

653

India Office to Foreign Office. (Received November 24.)

Sir,

India Office, November 22, 1919. IN continuation of Mr. Kershaw's letter dated the 8th October, 1919, on the subject of the negotiation of agreements with the Governments of France and Japan, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to inform you that, after further consultation with the Government of India, it has been decided to offer the opium required by these Governments for their legitimate requirements at the fixed rate of 4,000 rupees per chest. Each chest contains forty cakes or balls, of aproximately 3 lb each, the total weight being about 1404 lb. The opium is packed at a consistency of, as near as possible, 71 per cent. A statement is attached showing the prices realised at the Calcutta auctions for this opium for the past twelve months. The upset price is now 4,500 rupees per chest, and the sum realised at the October auction was 4,833 rupees a chest.

2. The Government of India have suggested, and Mr. Montagu concurs, that the proposed arrangements for direct sales to the Governments of the consuming countries should, if possible, be extended so as to include the requirements of Macao. Macao is at present supplied with opium under the agreement with the Government of Portugal, communicated to this Office with your letter of the 24th May, 1913, the actual agreement having been signed on the 14th June, 1913. A copy of the arrangement with the Government of Macao, settling the details of the procedure to give effect to the agreement with Portugal of the 14th June, 1913, is enclosed.

3. If Earl Curzon of Kedleston sees no objection, Mr. Montagu would be glad if negotiations were now open with the Government of Portugal, on the same basis as for the Governments of France and Japan, for the direct sale to the Government of Macao of the opium legitimately required by them, limited as regards the total amount to the quantities provided for in the agreement of the 14th June, 1913.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

I am, &c.

T. W. HOLDERNESS.

Opium Sales.

AUCTION RATES PER CHEST,

Rupees.

Rupees.

November, 1918

3,210

May, 1919

4,070

December

31

3,352

June

4,169

January, 1919

3,830

July

**

4,222

February

??

3,893

August, 1919

4,348

March

3,794

"1

September, 1919

4,407

April

4,162

October, 1919

4,833

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Arrangement with the Government of Macao settling Details of Procedure to give effect to the Agreement with Portugal of June 14, 1913.

1. Certificates authorising the Collector of Customs at Calcutta to allow the shipment of opium intended for Macao will be issued by the Board of Revenue only on the application of an agent appointed for that purpose. The name of the agent will be notified by the Governor of Macao to the Government of India.

[1515 a-1]

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