CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 26

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(c) There is also the danger of opium smoking being replaced by alcohol. But we must not allow this danger, great though it is, to influence our policy 23

regarding the opium question, but must leave alcohol to be controlled as a separate problem.

11.

We now have the League of Nations and their

Advisory Committee, who have before them full informa- tion as to the measures already adopted, to say:-

(a) that further restrictive measures can nor be taken without the danger of present evile being replaced

by greater evils, as above,

(b) Within what period it can be anticipated that

total suppression can safely be aimed at. On this head

it is necessary to lay down that while financial loss,

huge and paralysing though that loss would ba, will not

be allowed to interfere either with further restriction

or with complete ultimate suppression of opium smoking, it is impossible for His Majesty's Government to proceed further in the way of greater restriction and ultimate suppression, except pari passut with all countries in the Far East to which Chinese omigrate; since diversion of Chinese emigrants from British or British Protected Countries in the Far East to other countries (e.g. the

Netherlands East Indies, French territory and Siam)

where restrictions on opium smoking would not be so rigid as in our parts of the Far East, would be certain to result, and would entail disastrous effects on our own territories whilst only partially sacuring the ob-

ject aimed at.

The replies of the different Coverments to question 11 of the Questionnaire issued by the Opium Advisory Committee of the League of Nations, give varying and inadequate statements of the policy now being, and

to

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