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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[1204]
No. 1.
REGE [JanuaryMAR ||
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Mr. Phillips to Sir Edward Orey.-(Received January 11.)
American Embassy, London, January 10, 1911. WITH reference to your note of the 1st December concerning the steps taken by His Majesty's Government to obtain the required data in regard to the trade in morphia and cocaine in the United Kingdom and to Mr. Reid's reply under date of the 22nd December, I now have the honour to inform you that following the adjournmout of the International Opium Commission the Government of the United States without delay instituted more thorough enquiries regarding the importation, manufacture, and exportation of morphia and cocaine, almost complete information on which subject may be found in the report of the American Opium Commission, which Mr. Reid had pleasure in transmitting to you with his note of the 8th August last.
In pursuance of his policy to act promptly on the findings of the International Opium Commission the Secretary of State drafted certain legislation, which I believe you will find conforms to the British proposals in respect to morphia and cocaine as well as other so-called habit-forming drugs. In this connection, I beg to enclose, as of possible interest, two copies of a pamphlet containing a hearing, on the 31st May, on the proposed legislation before the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, which also contains copies of the several Bills on the subject which are now before Congress.* A more recent hearing has been held before this Committee on the proposed measures, and I learn that further hearings will be held at an early date. The result so far achieved has been to secure the hearty co-operation of American importers, manufacturers, and exporters in favour of the principles of the proposed legislation, and it is the hope of the Secretary of State that, in view of the impending conference, the present session of Congress will act favourably on these
measures.
I have also the honour to advise you that my Government have taken steps to legislate fin conformity with Resolutions Nos. 8 and 9 of the International Opium Commission, which are as follows :-
Resolution 8.-That the International Opium Commission recommends strongly that each delegation move its Government to enter into negotiations with the Chinese Government with a view to effective and prompt measures being taken in the various foreign concessions and settlements in China for the prohibition of the trade and manufacture of such anti-opium remedies as contain opium or its derivatives.
Resolution 9.-That the International Opium Commission recommends that each delegation move its Government to apply its pharmacy laws to its subjects in the consular districts, concessions, and settlements in China.
informed
With a view to accomplish the purposes of the above resolutions, I am that there is now before Congress a comprehensive Pharmacy Act (Senate document 8208, 61st Congress, 2nd Session, Calendar No. 663), two copies of which I beg to enclose, which has been favourably reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and which will probably be acted upon by that body during the present session of Congress.
I have, &c.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS.
Not printed.
[1857 ----1]