CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 105

1

used for other

104

sany's proceedings, 'even if it

The Customs returns seem to show that all the

orphine received by the Company cannot be sent to Japan,

noe the figures given under the heading of drugs are too

all to account for it, but argument on this point is

posible, because it is contended that the Company receive

บ

le morphine from the Goverment factory, and then by

refining it greatly reduce its bulk.

Taking into account the facts that there have

admittedly been opium scandals in Dairen, that officials in

Termosa are suspected of similar malpractices and that they oan give no clear explanation of certain points, although such explanation would be perfectly easy if there were nothing to sonceal; it seems probable that a certain amount of morphine, and possibly of opium too, is muggled into... China with the comivanes of some high officials. On the other hand, there can hardly be a general conspiracy of the whele săministration, for in that case it would merely be- neesssary to alter the figures of the customs returns e the mount of morphine produced, and any illegal prasti: would be effectually concealed.

Mr. Phipps mentions that there la probably toí wiggling of drugs into China from Formosa now than feN

several missionaries whom I consulted agreed with f opinion. It also appears probable that Mr. Kaku, the Monopoly Bureau for Opium, Camphor, and Tobacco, removed from his post and it may be hoped that this an intention on the part of the central authorities waggling. But another and higher official whose freely mentioned in somestion with the scandals,

I have the honour, etc.,

(Signed.)

C. Eliet.