CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 516

Subject to your concurrence

therefore I propose to inuicate at the Conference that the 0.0. attitude

is as follows:-

(1) the 3.0. is sympathetic to any efforts designed to stop illicit

traffic in opium in the Far East.

(2) the scheme itself is good

in that although it might in practice prove to be ineffective from the point

of view of putting an end to the traffic from the Persian Gulf) it would clear H.M.G. and Hong Kong; (though in any case Hong Kong is not greatly concerned).

(3) to the question of expediency-in view of the political objections which ave been raise-is entirely a matter for the F.0. and H.O. to settle between them. It reath

Commero

to balancing

The chances

; of doing any good by

I

scheme (a) by way of

the

stopping

the good

the traffic (b) by way of displaying to the would intentions" of HAT.; against possible (a probable) economic distintances in Persia

The

resultant las of British influence I in that countyr.

J

agree. I doubt very much whether the scheme

will do more

Kransfer

505

than

a lucrative

traffic from the British

to a

foreign flag. The

Над

position is very

the same

G

much

it is in

regard to liquor.

ommuggling into the

U.JA.

In the came

of liqeave the view of

St M. G. has been that

it is

Eemove

iten duty to

the reproache

from the steitish

flag, although they

realize that the only

Effect will be

to

hansfer it to another

flag. I think we