CO129-502-10 Macao opium traffic 6-12-1926 - 7-12-1927 — Page 141

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A

This agreement did not,

operation till 28th July, 1926,

France, Great Britain and India.

till 13th September, 1926.

it is true, come into

and then only as between

Portugal did not ratify

Prior, however, to the new Agreement coming into

force, the export of Indian opium was only allowed by the

Indian Government on the receipt of a certificate from the

Government of the importing country that the amounts

ordered were required for legitimate purposes.

The fact that the buyers in Macao have been able,

notwithstanding the arrangements referred to, to obtain

large quantities of Indian opium from unknown sources is

causing H.M. Government much anxiety and they consider it

necessary to make all possible efforts to discover where

or how the leakage of Indian export opium into the general

market has occurred. I shall be glad, therefore, if

while using whatever method appears to you to be most

suitable in the circumstances and while making it clear

that H. M. Government do not wish in making these

t

investigations to appear to be criticizing the Portugese

Government or to be suggesting that the Macao authorities

have neglected any international obligation, you will

make every endeavour to get to the bottom of these

transactions.

A full report for transmission to the Home

Office should be forwarded to me in due course.