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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
([B]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38869]
No. 1.
C O 34472
REC?
Rece
NOV
[October 25.]
SECTION 3.
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.~(Received October 25.)
India Office, October 24, 1910. WITH reference to the letter from the American Ambassador, dated the 4th October, on the subject of the proposed International Opium Conference, copy of which was forwarded under cover of your letter of the 14th October, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to point out that Mr. Whitelaw Reid's letter appears to be based on the assumption that His Majesty's Government has agreed to take part in the conference, the proviso contained in Sir Edward Grey's letter of the 17th September, as to satisfactory assurances being given on certain points, being regarded by him apparently as a proposal rather than as a condition of the assent of His Majesty's Government.
I am to suggest that the United States Government should be asked whether steps bave been taken to obtain the stipulated assurances from the other Powers as the consent of His Majesty's Government to take part in the conference was made conditional on these assurances being first obtained.
I am also to suggest that it should be ascertained from the Board of Trade how long it will take to collect the necessary statistics and to complete the preliminary enquiries into trade conditions with reference to morphia and cocaine so far as the United Kingdom is concerned.
I am, &c.
COLIN G. CAMPBELL.
[2957 66--3]
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