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THE OPIUM MONOPOLY
BY ELLEN N. LA MOTTE
V -- THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS OPIUM COMMISSION
FROM time to time, certain people in England apparently have qualms as to Great
Britain's opium traffic, and from time to time questions are raised as to whether or not
such traffic is morally defensible. In February, 1909, apparently in answer to such
scruples and questionings on the part of a few, a very interesting report was published,
"Proceedings of the Commission appointed to Enquire into Matters Relating to the Use
of Opium in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States. Presented to both
Houses of Parliament by Command of His Majesty." This document may be found in the
New York Public Library and is well worth careful perusal.
This Commission consisted of about a dozen men, some English, some natives of the
Straits Settlements. They apparently made an intensive and exhaustive study of the
subject, carefully examining it from every angle. Countless witnesses appeared before
them, giving testimony as to the effects of opium upon the individual. This testimony is
interesting, in that it is of a contradictory nature, some witnesses saying that moderate
opium indulgence is nothing worse than indulgence in alcoholic beverages, and like
alcohol, only pernicious if taken to excess. Other witnesses seemed to think that it was
most harmful. The Commission made careful reports as to the manner of licensing houses for
smoking, the system of licensing opium farms, etc., and other technical details connected
with this extensive Government traffic. Finally, the question of revenue was considered,
and while the harmfulness of opium smoking was a matter of divided opinion, when it came
to revenue there was no division of opinion at all. As a means of raising revenue, the
traffic was certainly justifiable. It was proven that about fifty per cent of the revenues
of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States came from the opium trade, and,
as was naively pointed out, to hazard the prosperity of the Colony by lopping off half its
revenues, was an unthinkable proceeding.
The figures given are as follows.
1898. Revenue derived from 0pium....45.9 percent
1899 44.8
1900 43.3
1901 53.2
1902 48.3
1903 47.1
1904 59.1
1905 46.
1906 53.3
There was one dissenting voice as to the conclusions reached by this Opium Commission,
that of a Bishop who presented a minority report. But what are moral scruples against cold
facts that there's money in the opium trade?
This Commission made its report in 1909. But the opium business is apparently still
flourishing in the Straits Settlements. Thus we read in the official Blue Book for 1917,
"Colony of the Straits Settlements " that of the total revenue for the year,
$18,672,104, that $9,182,000 came from opium. What per cent is that?
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