C. O.
RECR
LO MAR
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No. 128.
Sir T. Wade to Earl Granville.-(Received February 17, 1881.)
(No. 172. Confidential.) My Lord,
Peking, December 16, 1880. As my telegram No. 7 will have informed your Lordship, the new Commercial Treaty negotiated by the United States' Special Commission contains a clause in some way relating to the opium trade.
Having heard that it proposed to prohibit American citizens from carrying or importing opium, I asked Mr. Angell if, without indiscretion, I might inquire what was the nature of the provision in question. He said that, as regarded the Commercial Treaty, he was not at liberty to speak in any way; but he added that, in his belief, we should not find the clause referred to at all injurious to us.
I have, &c.
(Signed) THOMAS FRANCIS WADE,