[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]"
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[23552]
No. 1.
[May 23.]
SECTION 1.
Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 23.)
THE Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the memorandum which Sir Edward Grey was so good as to hand him, on yesterday's date, informing him of the acceptance by His Majesty's Government of the proposed agreement respecting the opium question, and conveying a draft text for the same.
The Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires is happy to take act of the acceptance by both Governments of all the "couclusions" arrived at by Senhor da Fonseca and Mr. Alston. Regarding the suggested additional article, he, however, bas the honour to propose that it should read as follows :—
"The present agreement is concluded for a period of five years dating from the day of its signature, but if neither Government shall have given to the other six months previous notice of its intention to terminate the same, it shall continue in force for another period of five years."
The Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires would be greatly obliged if Sir Edward Grey could let him know at his earliest convenience whether His Majesty's Government has any objection against such a substitution,
Portuguese Legation, May 22, 1913,
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