THE ALUMNI JOURNAL H 



OPIUM IN SIAM. 



A GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY ADMINISTERED THROUGH AN OPIUM FARM. 



Consul-General John Van A. MacMurray, of Bangkok, furnishes 

 the following- report concerning the imports of opium into Siam and 

 the manner in which the business in the drug is conducted in the 

 Kingdom : 



Opium is now and for a long time has been a government^ monop- 

 oly, administered through an opium farm. By the treaties with 

 foreign powers, opium may be imported free of duty, but can only 

 be sold to the opium farm'er or his agents. In the event of no ar- 

 rangement being effected with them for the sale of the opium it shall 

 be re-exported, and no impost or duty shall be levied thereon. Any 

 infringement of this regulation shall subject the ooium to seizure and 

 confiscation. Under these circumstances practically no ooium is im- 

 ported into Siam, except the supolies for the farm, which the Gov- 

 ernment provides by purchasing Indian opium. The farm system is 

 being replaced by direct governmental administration. 



The only derivative of opium about which any question has hitherto 

 arisen is morphine. The Siamese Government claims under the 

 treaties the right to exercise the same control over this derivative as 

 over opium itself. In view, however, of the legitimate uses to which 

 morphia may be put in the practice of medicine, the Government has 

 l^ermitted the importation of reasonable amounts by reputable chem- 

 ists under certain safeguards ; but its impo'-tation by other persons is 

 not permitted. When imported for medical purposes, morphia pays 

 the usual duty which is charged on merchandise generally— 3 per cent. 

 Siamese legislation concerning opium consists of the following 

 laws, decrees, and regulations: (i) Law relating to the monopoly, 

 1 871; (2) supplementary law relating to the monopoly, 1890; (3) 

 regulations concerning the monopoly, 1893; (4) regulations concern- 

 ing the monopoly, 1896; (5) supplement to the regulations of the 

 state railways (prevention of traffic in or smuggling of illicit opium 

 within their precincts), 1898; (6) regulations concerning the monopoly, 

 1899; (7) decree prohibiting the importatun of yale and other drugs 

 containing opium; (8) decree fixing penalties for offenses in connec- 

 tion with illicit opium. [Copies in English of these laws, decrees, and 

 regulations are on file in the Bureau of Manufactures.] 



There is practically no cultivation of the poppy in Siam. In Uie 

 extreme north there is a small quantity grown on the tops of the hills, 

 at an aUitude of over 3,000 feet, which is consumed by the producers. 

 There is no export trade in opium in Siam; neither is there any 

 production save in the case mentioned. The figures for the imports 

 therefore represent the consumption in the Kingdom. The total value 

 of the imports in 1907 was $684,361. 



