CO129-464 - Public Offices - 1920 — Page 268

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[168006]

со

mut co

258

RECEIVED

2 FEB 1920 COL OFFICE

5814

RESO [Januar 612 FEB 20

SECTION 1.

No. 1.

India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received January 6.)

India Office, January 5, 1920.

Sir,

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of Sir J. Tilley's letter, dated the 2nd December, 1919, on the subject of the proposed agreement with Portugal regarding the supply of opium to Macao."

2. Mr. Montagu agrees that the allowance of 260 chests a year for local consumption, and the limit of 240 chests a year for exportation from Macao to countries which do not prohibit the importation of opium seem excessive, and he would be glad if these amounts could be reduced. The indefinite extension of the export business in opium from Macao, which article 5 of the agreement contemplates, also appears undesirable, and it would be in consonance with the accepted policy of the Government of India if the limits now provided for under articles 2 and 4 of the agreement could be naterially reduced, and if article 5 were abrogated. The Secretary of State concurs in the suggestion that the Government of Portugal should be asked to consider the question of amending the agreement of 1913 in this sense. Accurate information as to the exports of Indian opium to Macao and Hong Kong during recent years is not available at present, but the Government of India are being addressed on the subject, and on receipt of their reply a further communication will be made.

1 am, &c.

[2088 ƒ—1]

F. KERSHAW.