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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
548
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[22960]
No. 1.
Note communicated to Portuguese Legation.
[May 21,]
SECTION O
20085
RECE (Rry 13 JUN 13
ON the 23rd ultimo the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires enquired how His Majesty's Government proposed to give effect to the conclusions" arrived at by Mr. Alston and M. de Fonseca on the question of Macao-Hong Kong opium. M. de Tovar stated that the Portugueso Government approved the recommendations made, but that they would prefer, in order to give the arrangement greater stability, that it should be transformed into a regular agreement between the two countries.
Sir E Grey has now the honour to inform M. de Tovar that His Majesty's Government accept this proposal, and he encloses herewith a draft agreement which follows the lines of the "conclusions," with the addition of a clause as to the period during which the agreement shall remain in force.*
Sir E. Grey would be glad to learn whether the Portuguese Government approve the terms of the draft agreement. He has, further, the honour to request that he may be furnished with the Portuguese translation of the additional article.
Foreign Office, May 21, 1913.
• Draft Agreement,
[2926 --1]