[B]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government 702
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[42012]
No. 1.
47602
IRE
REG 29 DEC 08
[December 21
SECTION 1.
Sir Edward Grey to the British Delegates to the International Opium Commission at Shanghae.
Gentlemen,
Foreign Office, December 21, 1908. THE King has been graciously pleased to appoint you British Delegates to the International Commission which has been convened by the United States' Government A Commission under to investigate the opium trade and opium habit in the Far East. the Royal Sign Manual and Signet appointing you in this capacity is inclosed herewith.
The Commission is to assemble at Shanghae on the 1st February, 1909, and will be composed of Delegates of the following Powers: China, France, Great Britain. Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Siam, and the United States. Turkey has also been invited.
As you are aware, on the 20th September, 1906, a Decree was issued by the Emperor of China ordering measures to be framed for the strict prohibition of the consumption and cultivation of opium in China, and commanding that all the evils arising from foreign and native opium. were to be completely eradicated within a period of ten years.
Soon after this the American Government informed His Majesty's Government that they were much concerned with regard to the question of opium, which had been raised in connection with the Philippines, and they inquired what view His Majesty's Government would take of a Joint Commission on, or a joint investigation of, the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East to be undertaken by certain countries. On inquiring what exactly was meant by an investigation of the opium trade and opium habit, the United States' Government stated that it was desired to come to a decision as to whether the consequences of the opiuro trade and habit were not such that civilized Powers should do what they could to put a stop to them.
His Majesty's Government expressed their readiness to take part in such an inquiry if the other Powers named by the United States' Government were likewise willing to participate, and if, as regards China, the inquiry were extended to the production of opium in China as well as to the import of foreign opium.
Annexed to this despatch is a copy of a Message From the President of the United States to Congress," to which is attached a letter from the Secretary of State to the President, which gives a short history of the causes which have led the United States' Government to issue invitations to the Powers named to take part in this investigation. In May last the United States' Government, in notifying the agreement of the Governments concerned to this Joint Commission, intimated that their idea was that the Delegates of each country which was to be represented should proceed indepen- dently and immediately with the investigation of the opium question on behalf of their respective countries with a view--
1. To devise means to limit the use of opium in the possessions of that country; 2. To ascertain the best means of suppressing the opium traffic, if such now exists, among their own nationals in the Far East;
3. To be in a position when the various Commissions meet in Shanghae to co-operate and offer, jointly or severally, definite suggestions of measures which their respective Governments may adopt for the gradual suppression of opium cultivation, traffic, and use of the drug within their Eastern possessions, and thus to assist China in her purpose of eradicating the evil from that Empire.
As far as Great Britain and China are concerned, the measures decided upon by them and already in operation have anticipated the proposals contemplated in No. 1 and No. 2.
In addition to the above suggestions regarding the scope of the investigation, the United States' Government further suggest that each Delegation should be able to * Mr Bryce, No. 173, May 19, 1908,
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