Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Note by French Foreign Office.
In reply, I have the honour to state that the Chinese Government is determined in its effort to prohibit the use of opium, but, not understanding the method of investigation which would be pursued by the Commission, my Board could not conveniently assent to the proposal before. Now, however, we have read Excellency's second note, in which your Government's proposal is clearly explained.
Moreover, your Excellency called at the Foreign Office on the 19th instant and explained that after the method of investigation shall have been agreed upon by the Commissioners, each Government will itself make the investigation within its own territory. This is the general plan as my Board understands it, and to this proposal we can consent. We will select and appoint a competent Commissioner, and when all the Commissioners together have decided upon the method of investigation and pursued, China herself will carry out the investigation in all the provinces.
It becomes my duty to send this note to your Excellency for your information, and I request that you will forward this reply to the Department of State.
(Seal of the Wai-wu Pu)
(Translation.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Herr von Tschirschky to Mr. Eddy.
Imperial German Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
March 28, 1907.
In reply to the note of the 27th February, 1907, the Undersigned has the honour to inform Mr. Spencer Eddy, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America, that the Imperial Government is very willing to accept the invitation of the United States to take part conjointly with the Governments of the United States, Britain, France, Holland, China, and Japan, in a Conference for the investigation of the opium question and the opium trade in Eastern Asia.
Further, if it should be deemed more practical, the Imperial Government would be willing to appoint a Commission to study the opium question and to investigate proposals, or it would name a Commissioner to take part in a united action.
The Undersigned, while desiring to be informed as to how the proposals of the United States have been received by the other Powers, avails, &c.
VON TSCHIRSCHKY.
M. le Ministre,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Paris, le 3 Juillet, 1907.
Inclosure G in No. 1.
Viscount Hayashi to Mr. Wright.
Department of Foreign Affairs, Tókið,
March 27, 1907.
(Translation.)
Ambassadeur,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note under date of the 8th instant, stating to the effect that the inquiries made by the United States Government towards the end of last year about the views of the Imperial Government and of the British Government, relative to the limitation and suppression of the opium traffic, having elicited favourable replies from these Governments as to the question.
M. van Goudriaan to Mr. Hill.
le 11 Mai, 1907.
POUR faire suite à ma lettre du 27 Mars dernier, j'ai l'honneur de porter à la connaissance de votre Excellence que le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté la Reine est d'avis que la nomination d'une Commission Internationale serait préférable à la réunion d'une Conférence pour étudier la question de l'opium en Extrême-Orient.
Veuillez, &c. (Signé) VAN TETS VAN GOUDRIAAN
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
M. van Goudriaan to Mr. Hill.
Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, La Haye,
le 27 Mars, 1907.
EN réponse à la lettre de votre Excellence du 14 Février dernier, j'ai l'honneur de porter à sa connaissance que le Gouvernement de la Reine est disposé à coopérer de la manière indiquée à l'institution d'une enquête par rapport au commerce et la consommation de l'opium en Extrême-Orient.
Il procédera à la nomination d'un Délégué à la Conférence mentionnée par votre Excellence, ou bien à l'indication d'un membre dans une Commission éventuelle dès qu'il sera décidé de quelle manière l'enquête se fera.
Veuillez, &c.
VAN TETS VAN GOUDRIAAN
(Signé)
I avail, &c. (Signed)
Viscount HAYASHI,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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