[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
474
OPIUM
CONFIDENTIAL.
[51174]
No. 1.
C
[December 21.]
SECTION
O 2018
REG 20 JAN 12
(No. 5.) Sir,
Sir C. Clementi Smith to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received December 21.)
The Hague, December 19, 1911 THE secretariat of the conference has to-day furnished us with a printed paper giving the text of all the resolutions adopted up to and including the 14th instant by the conference, together with a statement of the voting on each.
For convenience of reference I have the honour to transmit to you herewith three copies of this paper.
I have, &c.
Enclosure in No. 1.
CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH.
Resolutions adopted by the International Opium Conference.
THAT a committee to be called the " Programme Committee" be appointed, consisting of one representative from each delegation, and that it be authorised to prepare and submit to the conference a draft programme for consideration, such programme to be based upon the suggestions made on behalf of the United States of America as modified by the several Powers which have made reservations thereon, and upon the additional suggestions made on behalf of Great Britain and Italy; and that any further matters which the conference may subsequently decide to take into consideration shall similarly be first referred to the same committee. (Adopted unanimously.)
That all reports concerning the existing conditions of opium traffic and the internal measures taken to control them should be printed, and after being distributed to the members of the conference, may be presented in plenary session, with a few explanatory remarks. (Adopted unanimously.)
Resolved, that all the conclusions reached by the conference shall be presented to the other nations not here represented, and that their co-operation be asked with a view to the advancement of such a noble cause. (Adopted unanimously.)
To be inserted after the first paragraph of rule 8 :----
The resolution referred to in the present rule is one of such character as is destined to form the subject of international agreement, and consequently to require a careful study beforehand; and does not include a resolution offered in the course of the sitting of the conference for transaction of business. (Adopted unanimously.)
With a view to assisting China in her efforts to restrict the importation of opium into her dominions, the Governments represented at the conference are prepared to signify their adhesion to the engagement embodied in the agreement signed between the British and Chinese Governments on the 8th May, 1911, to the effect that chests of Indian opium, unsealed and unaccompanied by the special numbered permits issued by the Indian Government, shall be refused entry into any of the treaty ports of China, and will take the necessary steps to make that engagement binding on their nationals.
Further, the Governments represented are prepared to signify their adhesion to the terms of prohibition issued by the Chinese Government forbidding the importation of Persian and Turkish opium into the Chinese Empire after the 1st January, 1912, and to take necessary measures to make such prohibition binding on their nationals.
(Six countries voted in favour (France with reserve as regards paragraph 2; Japan
and Persia voted ad referendum; Portugal with reserve).)
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