File No. 774/574–575.
American Legation,
Bankok, January 2,
1909.
No. 447.]
[Inclosure.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister King.
Foreign Office,
Bangkok, January 1,
1909.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d inst. [ult.],
transmitting a copy of a dispatch, dated October 22d, from the State
Department.
I am pleased to learn of the satisfaction felt by the American
Government that the Siamese Government will participate in the
International Opium Commission to meet at Shanghai.
I beg to express my thanks for the communication of the names of the
American commissioners.
In response to the request for similar information, I have the honor
to say that His Majesty’s Government has appointed as commissioners
Phya Sakdi Sani, at present high commissioner of the monthon of
patani; Luang Visutr Kosa, secretary of legation, at present
attached to the ministry for foreign affairs; and Phya Manas Manit,
secretary in the ministry of finance.
In preparation for the general meeting at Shanghai, the above-named
commissioners will investigate in this country the subjects of the
import of crude opium, its derivatives and chandu; the consumption
of crude opium, licit and illicit; the internal manufacture and use
of chandu; the use of the crude drug and preparations of the same;
the use of morphine and other derivatives, licit and illicit; and
the legislation of this country on the importation, sale, and use of
opium and its derivatives. As you will observe, there are omitted
from the above program certain subjects included in the program of
the American commissioners, namely, the manufacture of morphia, and
other opium derivatives, and the extent of poppy cultivation. These
subjects have been omitted because Siam neither manufactures morphia
nor cultivates poppy.
I avail, etc.,
