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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government."
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[14665]
No. 1.
15372[April 20.]
SECTION 1.
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received April 20.)
Sir,
India Office, April 19, 1911. WITH reference to your letter of the 7th April, 1911, forwarding Sir John Jordan's telegram No. 94 of the 7th April, and to subsequent correspondence on the subject of opium negotiations with China, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to say that, after considering the matter in consultation with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, he agrees that the time has now come to entrust Sir John Jordan with powers to make with the Chinese Government the best terms he can, as speedily as possible, and, if he thinks expedient, without further consultation as to the views of the Government of India, but subject to confirmation by His Majesty's Government, on the two questions which are now outstanding, viz.: (1) The treatment of existing stocks of uncertified opium, and (2) closure by provinces.
I am to forward a copy of a telegram which, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has been sent to the Government of India informing them of this decision. It is understood that instructions in a similar sense will be sent to Sir John Jordan together with the following explanation of Viscount Morley's views →→ As regards the first of the two questions, there should apparently be no difficulty in arriving at an agreement on the basis that, in consideration of the stocks of uncertified opium in the treaty ports and Hong Kong being guaranteed the same privileges as certified opium, the Government of India will reduce the certified exports in future years to an amount to be agreed on. Viscount Morley is prepared to accept a substantial reduction in the certified exports on the understanding that, if necessary, the details of the arrangement will be submitted to him before being definitely settled in order to ensure that the details are workable.
If
As regards the second question, Viscount Morley is fully alive to the gravity of the possible results of conceding the Chinese demand in its present form for power to close the treaty ports, including Shanghai and Canton. This should therefore only be conceded in the last resort, and if no alternative expedient cau be devised, such as the shortening of the agreed term for the continuance of the Indian certified traffic. Sir John Jordan finds it necessary, under the powers now conferred on him, to concede the right to close treaty ports by provinces, he might be able to secure a proviso that it shall not be exercised in respect of any treaty port, or in respect at least of Canton and Shanghai before the end of 1912 or some such date, and that its exercise shall be further subject to evidence being furnished that the province does not produce opium and does not import native opium. Viscount Morley would leave to Sir John Jordan full discretion as to how far these suggestions should be pressed.
With reference to your letter of the 10th April, reporting the suggestion of the Chinese Minister that in place of the proposed power of closure by provinces the Chinese Government should be permitted to shorten the agreed period for the continuance of the Indian import trade on being able to announce that the cultivation of opium had been entirely suppreseed throughout China, I am to point out that His Majesty's Govern- ment agreed in January last to Sir John Jordan's proposal that an assurance somewhat to the sanie effect should be given to the Chinese Government if an agreement on other points were satisfactorily arrived at. In case Sir Edward Grey proposes to communicaté M. Len's opinion to Sir John Jordan, the latter might be authorised to make use of M. Len's suggestion, if it seems to offer a possible alternative, and might be referred to the telegram of the 27th January.
I am to enclose a copy of a telegram dated the 7th April, 1911, containing the Government of India's views on the various points in dispute, and to submit that Sir John Jordan should be asked to suggest the terms in which an intimation of the new rate of consolidated duty should be conveyed by the Government of India to the opium merchants.
I am,
R. RITCHIE.
&c.
:
[1973
-1]