Sir J. D. REESasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, at a conference of British chambers of commerce in China, the British Minister has stated that the cultivation of opium is rife in nearly every province in China; and 633W whether, since this is the case, any useful object can be served by giving immediate effect to the International Opium Convention of The Hague, 1912, without waiting for the ratification of that instrument by other countries?
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo report has yet been received from His Majesty's Minister in Pekin as to the statement alleged to have been made by him at the Conference of British Chambers of Commerce at Shanghai. It is unfortunately true, however, that reports received from His Majesty's Legation during the past year tend to show that there has been a recrudescence of opium cultivation in certain provinces in China, which is mainly due to the present unsettled political conditions in the country. His Majesty's Government have made strong protests against this state of affairs. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Article 295 of the Peace Treaty, which provides for bringing the Opium Convention into force.