[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
465
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
X
[November 20],
SECTION 2.
[40571]
No. 1.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 20.)
THE American Ambassador presents his compliments to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to inform him that, owing to the demise of Their Imperial Majesties the Empress Dowager and the Emperor of China, the Wai-wu Pu have requested that the sitting of the Opium Commission might be postponed to the 1st February, 1909.
The American Government, while regretting the necessity of interfering with the programme laid down, consider, as a mark of sympathy with the Chinese Government in their bereavement, that such postponement would be desirable if acceptable to the participating Powers.
Mr. Reid is therefore instructed to communicate this suggestion to Sir Edward Grey, and in doing so ventures to express the hope that he will be so good as to cause him to be informed what the attitude of His Majesty's Government might be in this regard, so that Mr. Reid may inform his Government without delay.
American Embassy, London, November 20, 1908.
[2020 u-2]