[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM,
CONFIDENTIAL.
622
[December 20.]
RECO
Reef 7 JAN I
SECTION 4.
No. 1.
[46010]
(No. 161.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
OPIUM Agreement negotiations.
Foreign Office, December 20, 1910.
Government of India telegram of the 18th December.
You will observe that the two following points are raised in this telegram: (1) whether, in the event of our proposals not being accepted by China before the 31st December, earmarking should commence from the 1st January or be postponed as suggested; and (2) whether, in the same event, the present arrangement for reducing the export of opium should remain in force.
I should be glad to receive as early as possible an expression of your opinion on these points, together with any observations which may suggest themselves to you.
You may communicate the substance of the Viceroy's telegram to the Wai-wu Pu should you consider it likely to induce the Chinese Government to realise the gravity of the situation which will arise on the 1st January, 1911.
[1804 u-4]
156