CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 653

MINUTES.

MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.

In any further communication on this subject, please quote

No.

and address,

F1627/15/10.

not to any person by name,

but to-

*The Under-Soorotary of State,"

Foreign Odice,

Blist (Token).

73.

Be this

650

27266

FOREIGN OFFICE. $.7.1,

May 30th, 1921.

London, 8.W.1.

Sir:-

70%

With reference to your letter No. 19520/21 of the

29th ultimo, I am directed by Earl Curzon of Kedleston to

transmit to you herewith a copy of a despatch from His

Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo regarding the production and

consumption of opium and morphine in Formosa.

1

2. From the information furnished in the enclosures to

this despatch it would appear likely that opium and morphine

is exported from Formosa to China.

3. The statistics of the exports of opium fr Hongkong, enclosed with the Colonial Office letter

1027/21

of the 21st March last, show that large proportion of the

raw opium exported from the colony in 1920 was consigned to

Formosa.

4. In view of the rave responsibility which His

Majesty's Government are liable to incur if it is proved that

opium emanating from British sources and morphine manufactured

therefrom is being smuggled into China, Kr, Decretary

Churchill may think it desirable to consider the steps which

can be taken to guard against the danger of such misuse of

opium which is allowed to be exported from Hong Kong.

Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am

1

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

1.4hledan