CO129-502-9 Opium traffic- activities of Nemazee family 1-12-1926 - 27-10-1927 — Page 31

31

and Co., of Victoria Street, have approached the Siamese

Legation in London with certain proposals. The firm appear

to be vouched for by the Home Office, If the results of the

enquiries which I am making about them are satisfactory, and

if suitable terms can be negotiated with them, this may prove

to be the solution for which we have been looking.

I have written at some length because it is desirable that you should know Siam's difficulties, du

to causes beyond her own control. A sympathetic attitude

on the part of any British representatives who deal with

opium matters at Geneva would of course be helpful.

There

is another point. I have been forced to the conclusion

that any further step forward in Siam in the direction of

opiwn suppression, as well as any success in dealing with

smuggling, will necessitate some reduction in the retail

price of licit opium. The present price puts an enormous premium on smuggling and is answerable for certain other

evils, such as the prevalence of the "dross" habit.

This

at present is only the personal opinion of Stevens and

myself. It would be useless to press it upon the Government until we can be assured of our supply. It is likely, moreover, that the Government might fear that such a measure would be regarded at Geneva as retrograde. I have been

told that the authorities in the Dutch East Indies have

come to the same conclusion, though I do not know whether they have actually made any reduction. I know that at Singapore some time ago a similar proposal received some consideration; I am not sure with what result; perhaps they

felt