[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38367]
43659 November 27.J
211
SECTION 1
REG 14 DEC 07
No. 1.
11299
18
20
08,
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Whitelaw Reid.
Your Excellency,
Foreign Office, November 27, 1907
WITH reference to my note of the 11th instant, I have the honour to inform you that a reply has now been received from the Secretary of State for India to the reference made to him in regard to the proposal of the United States' Government to appoint a Commission to investigate the question of the opium trade in China.
I shall be glad if your Excellency will be so good as to inform the United States' Government that His Majesty's Government have learnt with pleasure that the Governments concerned, in accepting the proposal in principle, have expressed a preference for a Joint Commission; and that, at this stage, His Majesty's Government will be glad, if possible, to receive some more precise information as to the proposed procedure of the Commission, and the time and place of meeting, as to which they prefer to leave to the initiative of the American Government as the originators of the proposal.
I am, &c.
[2724 dd-1]
(Signed)
E. GREY.