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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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OPIUM.
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CONFIDENTIAL.
[34185]
No. 1.
R28 AUG 13!
[July 211
SECTION 1,
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.--(Received July 24.)
India Office, July 23, 1913.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward for the information of Sir Edward Grey a copy of a telegram from the Government of India, dated the 18th July. I am to enquire whether any information has been received from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject of the reported breach of the opium agreement at Foochow, and to suggest that, if the facts are as alleged, strong representations should be made to the Chinese Government on the subject.
It will be observed that the reply given to Sir J. Rees's question on the 8th July has been read in India as indicating that there is a possibility that His Majesty's Government may agree to the Chinese Government's request for reshipment of the opium, China paying freight charges. I am to suggest that as this proposal is not one that can be entertained, it would be well, if Sir Grey sees no objection, to take an early opportunity of making known that no acceptable proposals by the Chinese Government for dealing with the stocks are at present before His Majesty's Government.
I am, &c.
T. W. HOLDERNESS.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Government of India to the Marquess of Crewe.
(Telegraphic.)
July 18, 1913. SASSOON'S report from Hong Kong Chinese authorities returned twenty-five chests Malwa opium from Foochow. If correct, this is clear breach of opium agree- ment. Have you any information? In any case, we would suggest desirability of early and emphatic repudiation of recent Chinese proposal to reship opium from Shanghai, Chiua paying freight. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs' reported reply in House of Commons, Sth July, that he could make as yet no pronouncement on subject, has produced unfavourable impression here.
[1816 aa-1]