This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
1
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[20713]
No. 1.
[June 10.]
SECTION 1.
207
Sir,
Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 10.)
American Embassy, London, June 8, 1910. IN your note to Mr. Carter, dated the 14th March, 1907, it was stated that in the opinion of His Majesty's Government procedure by way of commission would seem better adapted than a conference for an investigation of the facts of the opium trade and of the consequences of the opium habit in the Far East; but that if the other Powers consulted would prefer procedure by way of a conference, His Majesty's Govern- ment had no desire to press their views in regard to a commission.
In view of the aforesaid note, my Government could not but feel that His Majesty's Government were at that time favourable to the meeting of a conference to settle the question of the production of opium in China as well as the importation of foreign opium to that country. However, in deference to the suggestion of His Majesty's Government that the Powers interested in the opium question should proceed by way of a commission preliminary to any action which might be taken by the Powers jointly or severally, the Government of the United States proposed such a commission to the interested Powers. That commission met at Shanghae and studied the opium problem not only as seen in the Far East, but in its widest bearings. Based on the findings of the commission, my Government on the 1st September last proposed a conference to the interested Powers which should give to the main salutary propositions of the Commis- sion and the essential corollaries derived therefrom the force of law and international agreement.
As of possible interest to His Majesty's Government, I have the honour to inform you that the following Governments have accepted the proposal of the United States Government, and have declared their intention of sending delegates to the conference : China, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, Persia, Russia, and Siam.
A favourable reply is expected in the near future from Austria-Hungary, also from Turkey. The French Government has informed the Department of State that their Foreign and Colonial Offices are in consultation in regard to the tentative programme submitted in the circular proposal communicated to His Majesty's Government on the 23rd September last, and it is expected that a favourable reply will be received in a short time from Paris. The Netherlands Government bas expressed the wish that the conference be held at The Hague, and is now awaiting notification from this Govern- ment as to the adhering Powers to enable it to send out the necessary invitations to the conference.
In order to enable my Government to consult the interested Powers as to the most suitable date for the convening of the conference and to inform the Netherlands Government thereof so that it may issue the necessary invitations, the Government of the United States would be highly gratified to learn that His Majesty's Government is prepared to accept the American proposal.
I have, &c
WHITELAW REID.
*Sir F. Cartwright informed by Austro-Hungarian Government on June 11, 1910, that neither Austria nor Hungary intended to take part in the conference.
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