CO129-513-5 Coastal and river trade- prevention of smuggling and illicit trading 15-10-1928 - 14-12-1929 — Page 58

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2.

supported by His Majesty's Consul at Ichang at the

time.

2. His Majesty's Consul at Ichang argues

from false premises and we are unable to understand

his reference that "there is a powerful movement at

the present time among supporters of the National

Government for a vigorous policy of opium suppression"

when it is so evident that there is stronger support

in the opposition direction. If the Nationalist

Government were in earnest the suppression of opium

would begin with the suppression of the poppy, a fact

too patent to be gainsaid.

3. His Majesty's Consul at Ichang appears to

be unaware of the fact that regular and systematic

searches are carried out by the officers on board our

ships: these obviously cannot be a guarantee that no

opium is on board but they are an earnest of our de-

sire to do all that lies in our power to assist.

4. His Majesty's Consul at Ichang does not

hesitate to advocate "a counsel of perfection" at the

Shipping Companies' expense though not at the expense

of the Customs who se duty it is to maintain an adequate

preventive service.

5. The advocacy of authorizing the Opium

Suppression Bureau to send unarmed parties to search

British vessels is a departure from normal procedure

but one that would appear to merit careful consideration.

One difficulty is to know whence such a

Bureau derives its authority but provided His Majesty's

Consular Authorities at the ports concerned are sat-

isfied and further definitely promise the Shipping

Companies/