§ Sir W. COLLINSasked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs; whether he can now state the total amount and value of the opium which was exported from London and smuggled into Shanghai in October and November, 1917; what was the nature of the innocent cargo under cover of which the opium was concealed; whether the consignment was packed in tin-lined cases; how this consignment of opium escaped discovery before leaving London; and what has been done with the opium seized at Shanghai?
1138W
Mr. BALFOURThe total amount and value of the opium is not known; but there has not yet been time for a full report or newspaper account of the proceedings against the actual exporter, an American citizen, named Woodward, referred to in the previous answer, to reach this country. The opium was concealed in a consignment of water softener and soft soap. It is not known whether the consignment was packed in tin-lined cases. Inquiries made suggest that this was the case, but there is no definite record to that effect. Privy Council licences were obtained for the water softener and soft soap. There was no reason to doubt the truth of the statements made on the relative shipping documents and the Customs examination did not suggest any suspicions. I understand that it is the practice of the Chinese Maritime Customs to confiscate and destroy, usually by burning, any smuggled opium which they may seize.