545
2
As regards the proposal of the Chinese Government to purchase the stocks, our position officially, as shown in my despatch No. 86 of the 25th February last, ia that we have accepted the principle of this proposal, and are awaiting the promised statement as to the financial arrangements by which the purchase can be carried out. Although the proposal will in all probability be eventually abandoned, this position is one to which, in my opinion, we should adhere, as it may serve as a useful lever for removing any further illegitimate obstacles to the disposal of the stocks.
As for the Agreement of 1911 I should recommend that, as soon as the stocks are cleared off, we should express to the Chinese Government our willingness to modify it in accordance with article 9, which provides for revision by mutual consent. The modification should take the form of relinquishing the right to export opium from India to China, while retaining in some way the provisions for investigating the diminution of cultivation of native opium. If this policy is carried into effect, the investigation of cultivation in the provinces becomes meaningless as a measure for testing the right to import Indian opium, but it is a valuable precaution for ensuring the extinction of the native poppy. Our continued co-operation in the manner laid down in the agreement would be cordially appreciated by the Chinese Government, to whom we may be said to owe the duty of thus proving the sincerity of the motives with which we avowedly concluded the agreement.
I have, &c.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31449]
(No. 2.)
No. 1.
C.O
20085 [May 9.] GR 13 JUNIE
Sir A. Johnstone to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 9.)
(Telegraphic.) R.
OPIUM Conference.
Your despatch No. 22 of yesterday.
The Hague, May 9, 1913.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs will call conference in June, and will let me know exact date on Tuesday next. His Excellency said that he had already nearly promised the German Minister that no conference would be summoned, but he could not resist arguments of a Power so much interested as Great Britain. The United States were also very anxious that the conference should meet as soon as possible.
J. N. JORDAN.
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