§ 13. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will call for reports from British consular and other authorities in China concerning the smuggling of drugs into China by Japanese nationals, and place such reports in the Library of the House of Commons?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Cranborne)British Consular and other authorities periodically furnish information on this subject. Such information is supplied to the representative of His Majesty's Government on the League Opium Advisory Committee for such action as may seem useful and desirable, and the question of publicity is one which is determined by the League itself. I understand that in practice the proceedings and reports of the Opium Advisory Committee are published.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs the Noble Lord aware that drugs other than opium are at issue in this matter, and is he aware that there are very circumstantial reports that the Japanese authorities are actually encouraging this traffic in drugs among Chinese nationals?
§ Viscount CranborneI can assure the hon. and gallant Member that His 1613 Majesty's Government are keeping this matter constantly under observation.