CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 596

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minor.

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Surch they

Commander pble.

China in the suppression of the growth and use of opium in China, and though the difficulty in the way of enforcing prohibition which is created by the revival of the production and use of opium in China is a very serious one, it is difficult to argue that it justifies an abendorment of our pledges.

(11) To proceed with such minor improvements in the existing systems aɛ can be suggested (6.6., those suggested in the resort of the Malaya Committee) and at the same time to dissociate the próhibise of

profits

the opium mon polles from the revenues of the Colonies and to use them for humanitarian and social purposes outside the ordinary sphore of Government activities, e.g. medios provision, improvement of housing, higher education, and the like. This would at my rate relieve us from the reproach of living, on the profits of vice.

(111) To mnounce that prohibition of the use of opium for smokin. will be brought into force after a certain fixed period. Different periods could be fixed if desired for different Colonies according to local circumstances. The Hong Kong

Government •

if they have to appress the traffio, would prefer to do it at a strok", Their finances are extremely prosperous and the opium revenue is of no consequence to them, Mal.which depends very largely on the oplum monopoly for He Tavomie. would need a fairly long period in which to put te finances into order and tap fresh sources of revenue.

The

dir

•

6. The Home Office are stron, ly in favour of the latter source. Our position at the present time is

an equivocal and an embarrassing one. The British

Coverment has been specially active in the execution of the Opium Convention and his brought a good deal

of pressure to bear on ther countries to enforce

the Convention effectively, while at the same time

it has to be admitted that Great Britain itself is

not carrying out its obligations under Chapter II

of the Convention and moreovor is sotually deriving

large revenues from the traffic which it is under the obligation to suppress. It is needless to say

that in the circum: tances we are bi terly attacked

in the United States of America and other countries,

The adoption of a polloy of definite prohibition

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