§ 12. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information regarding the extent to which Indian and Persian opium has this year been smuggled into China through Macao and other depots, and regarding the extent to which the use of cocaine and other stimulants is now replacing that of Indian opium in China; and whether he has any proof of 1460 indications that the establishment of an official monopoly in native-grown opium will follow on the final extinction of the import from India?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative, but as regards Macao an agreement has recently been concluded with the Portuguese Government, and will shortly be laid on the Table, which it is hoped will make it extremely difficult for any smuggling to take place into China. As regards the last part of the question the Chinese Government at one time made certain proposals which included the establishment of an official monopoly in native-grown opium, but these proposals have since been withdrawn, and I am unable to say whether they will be renewed.