§ *MR. REESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has information whereby the quantities of opium imported into and grown in China can be compared; whether, if the answer be in the affirmative, he will communicate such information to the House; and whether, if the reply is in the negative, he will instruct consular officers in China to obtain such information, in order to ascertain the correctness of the unofficial reports to the effect that the China-grown opium is, at the lowest estimate, five times that imported from India.
§ MR. MORLEYThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. Consular officers in China will continue to obtain such information on the subject as is within their power, but, as stated by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member for Ripon on 29th November last, more information than exists cannot be promised.†