CO129-486 - Public Offices - 1924 — Page 521

A

(2) that formal view that Second

Conference is not competent to decide

questions relating to opium smoking

relegated to First Conference should

not be abandoned, but (3) that for

reasons of policy, and in order to

remove impression that powers concerned

are unable to meet American criticisms,

opportunity should be given to American

Belegation to state their views and to

other Delegations to reply; (4) British

Delegate to renew suggestion already

made that League of Nations should

appoint impartial commission to visit

countries concerned to examine facts as

affecting possibility of further

measures of repression.

I am being pressed to agree to

British Delegate being authorised to

make some declaration which will meet

ť

statement that replacement of opium

Bound that it would came falce sescial years

to study whots question of gradual & ultimately complete

t of opium in the whole of Malara by revenue from

SOURCES

and

I would of cases be maderstood

Can any definite interprctation)

Mason uble timme to us given in

Years.

be

prouibly at short notice.

revenues in Malaya presents great 517

difficulties/but that you are

appointing strong committee) to prepare

a scheme for reorganisation of finances

and

of Colony, possibly also of

protected states with a view to

rendering them independent of opium

revenue within reasonable time.

In considering this proposal you

should bear in mind (1) that when

circumstances render effective applica-

tion of Article 6 possible Malayan

Governments must be prepared to do with-

out opium revenue (2) that if such

Committee were appointed it would be

necessary that they should have definite

instructions to prepare concrete scheme

and not merely to enquire inte

possibili t

As regards Hong Kong it is proposed

the charge that Malaya is deterred by

revenue considerations from carrying out

obligations under 1912 Convention, for

gradual and effective suppression

opium smoking. Would you object to

statement

to announce that Government Monopoly

2

H.M.G. are Satisfied that

will be closed when/growth of poppy

3

in

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