§ Sir WILLIAM COLLINSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the alleged smuggling of four tons of opium into Shanghai; from what port the opium in question was consigned; what is the value of the opium; and what action the Customs authorities have taken in the matter, or propose to take?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord Robert Cecil)The question appears to relate to two consignments of opium exported from London in October and November, 1917, concealed in packages of innocent cargo. The opium was discovered on the arrival of the goods at Shanghai. Inquiries into the matter were made by the police and the Customs authorities in this country, with the result that the actual exporters were traced. One of them, an American citizen, named Woodward, was arrested and tried before the United States Consular Court in Shanghai on a charge of participation in the smuggling of the opium, to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum fine admitted by United States law was inflicted by the Court. The actual quantity and value of the opium is not known. It does not appear that legal proceedings lie against any person at present domiciled in the United Kingdom.