891.114 Narcotics/21
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Persia (Kornfeld)
Sir: The Department has received a note dated July 10, 1924, from the British Ambassador at Washington, of which a copy is enclosed,77 which refers to certain instructions to British Consular Officers in the Persian Gulf, concerning the illicit trade in opium. The note also inquires whether this Government would be disposed to instruct you to inform the Persian Government of the interest of the United States in the adoption of measures tending to suppress the illegal traffic in opium.
In the light of reports received by the Department which indicate that there is a substantial illicit trade in opium in Persian Gulf ports, the Department considers that it would be entirely appropriate for you to bring this matter to the attention of the Persian Government, and to state that it is this Government’s hope that the Persian Government will be in a position to enforce regulations which would result in bringing the illicit opium trade to an end.
You may further refer to the fact that this Government is much interested in the suppression of the illicit traffic in opium, that it has taken stringent measures to regulate this trade as far as the United States and its possessions are concerned, and any action which may be taken by the Persian Government to suppress the illegal opium traffic would be helpful to the United States in making more effective its own regulations.
Before making such representations you may confer with your British colleague in order that the representations which you may make may, as nearly as possible, coincide in time with those to be made by the British representative.
You will observe the statement in the Department’s communication to the British Government with respect to the suggested representations to Doctor Millspaugh on this subject. Having noted the [Page 586] plans outlined in the third, fourth and fifth quarterly reports of the Administrator General of the Finances of Persia for the control of the opium traffic, the Department assumes that Dr. Millspaugh already appreciates the interest of this Government in the effective control of the traffic in opium.
As indicated in the last paragraph of the note to the British Embassy and in the Department’s telegram No. 65 of August 13, 4 p.m.,78 the above instruction is only to be acted upon if a satisfactory settlement by the Persian Government of the questions arising from the killing in Teheran of Vice Consul Imbrie has been reached. Otherwise the Government would not be disposed to make representations in other matters not of immediate urgency.
I am [etc.]