The Russian Government, while approving in principle of the general tenor of the tentative programme, took exception to item (f), inasmuch as there is almost no production of opium in Russia, and for that reason the restriction and control of the cultivation of the poppy, as provided for by that item, would be superfluous as far as Russia is concerned, and would oppose a serious obstacle to the development of one of the branches of Russian agriculture.
The other Powers have accepted the tentative programme as a basis for discussion, reserving their particular views upon it, which will be expressed at the conference
itself.
You will see, therefore, that, although the tentative programme proposed by the United States has been in some respects narrowed by the reservations made by several of the Powers, generally speaking the scope of the work of the conference has been broadened by the suggestions that it include in its deliberations the question of the manufacture of and trade in morphine and cocaine and the Indian hemp drugs. It therefore seems to this Government desirable that production of and traffic in all habit- forming drugs, which have been proved to be a menace to the moral, physical, and economic welfare of the world, should be considered by the conference, and adequately dealt with by it in the spirit of resolution 5 of the International Opium Commission, which places a ban on all drugs which appear on scientific enquiry to be liable to abuse and productive of the ill effects of opium, its derivatives or preparations.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]-
со 40533
OPIUM.
Acc R#18 DEC 11
[November 27.}
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 1,
[46591]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Colonial Office.
Sir,
Foreign Office, November 27, 1911. IN your letter of the 21st instant you intimated Mr. Secretary Harcourt's con- currence in Secretary Sir E. Grey's proposal to address a note to the Netherlands Minister stating that His Majesty's Government must not be understood to admit the discussion at the forthcoming Opium Conference of matters relating to the domestic opium administration in India or the British colonies.
On further consideration Sir E. Grey thinks that, in view of the fact that the programme of the conference is to be drawn up by the conference itself, it will be Sufficient if the British delegates make a reservation in this sense at the opening meeting. I am directed to enquire whether Mr. Harcourt agrees to this course.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
0
12272 dd-1]
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