CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 46

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adults in the district. The annual consumption of prepared opium during the last eight years, 1914-1921, has been 7,240, 5,884, 6,761, 6,719, 8,255, 9,056, 7,712 and 5,124 kilos respectively, the consump- tion per head of the adult male Chinese population being about 8 ozs. in 1919, when consumption was highest, and about 4 ozs. in 1921. The price charged has been advanced at intervals contem- poraneously with similar increases in the Straits Settlements, and is now $9.50 per tael.

Ceylon. Great progress has been made since 1910 in reducing the consumption of prepared opium. Import and sale have been brought under the direct control of the Government. Opium may only be sold by authorized persons, and a system of registration of opium consumers has been established. The price has been raised from time to time, and the consumption of both kinds is decreasing. The number of consumers has been reduced from 24,000 in 1910 to 12,000 in 1920, and the allowances have been diminished. Except in very exceptional cases fresh persons are not placed on the register. Con- siderable quantities of opium and opium products are, however, smuggled into Ceylon and used by the natives.

Mauritius.-Opium smoking until recently existed on a small scale in Mauritius, but in February of this year it was forbidden by

law.

Wei-hai-wei-Permits to smoke opium are issued only to confirmed smokers by a Government Medical Officer. There are no opium divans. The number of registered opium smokers in 1920 was 58; and, as no fresh permits are being issued, the suppression of the habit will proceed pari passu with the death of the present smokers.

It will be seen from the foregoing recital that a steady and con- tinuous effort has been made during the last ten years to reduce the practice of opium smoking in British Colonies and Protectorates where it has been prevalent. The general policy has been to exercise a close control over the trade, to bring the average consumption within moderate limits, and, as far as possible, to prevent the illicit in- troduction of supplies.

Further than this it does not seem possible to go as long as pro- duction and distribution go unchecked in the neighbouring countries. Complete suppression can only be brought about by simultaneous measures in all the countries, concerned,

HOME OFFICE.

October, 1922.

Dear Grindle,

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HOME DELIGT...

WHITEHAL

25th October, 10:2.

I enclose a revise of the Pughlet on the action taken

by the British Government with regard to the dry traffic. nhe

at a previous stage Colonial Office have already seen it and have sent in word to say that they have no observations to make. As, however, one or tw

additions and corrections have been made,

it before we finally send it for press.

I shoul Ilie you to see

Please look particularly

at the last two parere,hs in Part IV, and the pan rah about Lorth Borneo at the top of 468 10.

Part II of

By tic way, no reference is nade in the Paupphlat to

Sarawak, and I cannot find that we have so far receiveú any

information with regard to Sarawak, though in the list of

Accessions and Ratifications, Document 20.6 in the Foreign Office

Paper (10.17 Treaty Series 1921) containing the International

Opium Convertion, 1912, and subsequent relative apers, Sarawak is

included among the Dominio: s, Colonies, Dependencies and

Protectorates for w..loh Great Britain sined the Convention on

17th December, 1912. Was she ever sent the questionnaire of the

League of Nations, and has she answered it? The question will

be raised sooner or later, and it seems desirable to clear it u

now.

dia Fice

( 3/326) Wt. 18211-0160 6,6 10/22 H & S Ltd. Gp:3.

Sir Gilbert Grindle, K.0.M.G., C.B.

Yours sincerely,

malcole Selevuigne