[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
RECEIVED
5SEP191? COL, OFFICE
со 55664
524
0
Acce
CONFIDENTIAL.
[January 10.]
Rem 25 SEP 19 SECTION 1.
(5300]
No. 1.
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.(Received January 10.)
India Office, January 9, 1919. IN reply to your letter, dated the 12th December, with reference to a suggestion made by the Chinese Government that, as soon as the destruction of the remaining stocks of Indian opium had commenced, official notes should be exchanged formally declaring that the 1911 Convention had come to an end, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to suggest that Sir J. Jordan should be asked whether he can explain the motive which has led the Chinese Government to make this request.
As far as the Indian Government is concerned the process of certifying opium in diminishing quantities for export to China has come to an end, and the Chinese Government cannot suggest that a formal declaration as proposed is necessary to complete or confirm the performance by the Government of India of their side of the agreement. On the other hand, the performance by the Chinese Government of their obligations is called into question by the recent reports of the recrudescence of opium in parts of China, and it seems undesirable at present for His Majesty's Government to take any action in regard to this agreement which might be held to debar them in future from referring to its terms and urging that the Chinese Government have not acted or are not acting up to their undertaking,
Mr. Montagu, therefore, is inclined to think that there are no strong reasons for acceding to the suggestion of the Chinese Government and that there are substantial reasons for demurring to it.
I have, &e.
A. HIRTZEL.
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