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The lione Office propose that the adoption of
this policy should be urged by the British 587
Delegation at the International Conference in November on all the states represented, but that its adoption by Great Britain should not be dependent on the action of the other Powers and that this should be publicly announced.
Things at least camot be worse than they are under the present system, and it is hoped may be better. The fact that the practice of opium smoking is declared illegal will tend to deter decent people, and strengthen the tendency already strong
in the younger generation of Chinese in the Colonies
against it.
7.
The Colonial Office
8.
f the policy of suppression is adopted by the Government it will apparently have certa in consequences for the export of opium from India on which the Indian Government should be consulted.
All or practically all the opium ex ored from India is for smoking and goes to the Far East, partly to our own possessions, partly to the possessions of France, Holland, Portugal, and Japan, and to Siam. The revenue derived from this export trade is about £2,000,000 a year, which goes to the Central Government, forming under 2 per cent. of
the total revenue.
If the policy of suppression is adopted for our own Colonies, it would see difficult to continue the exports from India to the possessions of other Powers, after the import into our own Colonies has been stopped. The abandonment of the Indian exort trade is being continually urged on Creat Britain (especially in Uppy). It is stified at present on the ground that Chapter II of the Oplum Convention recognises that the supression
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