[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[B]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[982]
со
3443
[January 9.]
SECTION 2.
No. 1. 3 EB P
India Office to Foreign Office.~(Received January 9.)
Sir,
WITH reference to the correspondence regarding opium arrangements with
India Office, January 9, 1911. China, ending with your letter dated the 31st December, 1910, I am directed to say that the Government of India have been asked to express their views on the Chinese Government's proposals contained in Sir John Jordan's telegrain No. 211, dated the 30th December, 1910. I am to forward, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, copies of certain telegrams which show that the Government of India have arranged to continue in 1911 the reduction of exports of opium and to commence to ear-mark chests for China.
I am, &c.
T. W. HOLDERNESS,
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
The Earl of Crewe to Government of India.
(Telegraphic.) P.
India Office, December 26, 1910. WITH reference to your telegram dated the 18th December regarding opium and Sir J. Jordan's telegram No. 205 of the 22nd, the reduction in exports of opium in 1911 should be continued. The decision as to ear-marking will be communicated shortly.
(Telegraphic.) P.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
The Earl of Crewe to Government of India.
India Office, December 28, 1910.
MY telegram of the 26th December: Opium. I shall be glad to receive your views (having regard to the possibility that an agreement may ultimately be concluded with the Chinese Government) as to whether the system of ear-marking should at once be brought into operation (see Sir John Jordan's telegram of the 22nd instant, paragraph 2). The immediate introduction of ear-marking would be clear evidence of our desire to co-operate with China, though, unless the Chinese Government enter into a definite agreement, and until they thereafter secure, by a revision of their treaties accepted by all the treaty Powers, the desired power to exclude from China chests not ear-marked, the measure will have no practical effect. This latter point will no doubt be understood by the trade.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Government of India to the Earl of Crewe.
(Telegraphic.) P.
December 30, 1910. WITH reference to your telegram dated the 28th December regarding opium, the advantages derivable from ear-marking are as follows:-
1. It proves that we sincerely desire to help China in accordance with the terms which your telegram sets forth.
2. If China persists in displaying a recalcitrant attitude, it ought to confer on us a strong preferential claim to the protection of such portion of the Indian exports as is ear-marked.
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