516
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
17830
[April 16. MAY 08
SECTION 1.
[13179]
No. 1.
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received April 16.)
India Office, April 15, 1908. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 31st ultimo, relative to a despatch received by the Colonial Office from the Government of Hong Kong regarding the proposed International Commission to investigate the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East.
With reference to the terms of the proposed reply to the Colonial Office, I am to suggest that it appears unnecessary for the immediate purpose to make any pronouncement as to the advantage likely to result from the proposed Commission, and to say that Mr. Secretary Morley would prefer that the words, "in view of the development seems doubtful," should be omitted. In proposing an investigation into the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East, the American Government presumably had in mind somewhat larger questions than those presented by China and the Indian opium trade with that country, and that Government and the Powers which have accepted its proposal may not be disposed to think that these questions have been decided by the measures taken by the Chinese Government and the arrangements made by the Indian Government. Mr. Secretary Morley would, therefore, prefer to suspend judgment until the scope and objects of the inquiry have been more fully unfolded by the American Government.
I am, &c. (Signed) A. GODLEY.
[2918 9-1]
1
516
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
17830
[April 16. MAY 08
SECTION 1.
[13179]
No. 1.
Sir,
India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received April 16.)
India Office, April 15, 1908. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 31st ultimo, relative to a despatch received by the Colonial Office from the Government of Hong Kong regarding the proposed International Commission to investigate the opium trade and the opium babit in the Far East.
With reference to the terms of the proposed reply to the Colonial Office, I am to suggest that it appears unnecessary for the immediate purpose to make any pronounce- ment as to the advantage likely to result from the proposed Commission, and to say that Mr. Secretary Morley would prefer that the words, "in view of the development seems doubtful," should be omitted. In proposing an investigation into the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East, the American Government presumably had in mind somewhat larger questions than those presented by China and the Indian opium trade with that country, and that Government and the Powers which have accepted its proposal may not be disposed to think that these questions have been decided by the measures taken by the Chinese Government and the arrangements made by the Indian Government. Mr. Secretary Morley would, therefore, prefer to suspend judgment until the scope and objects of the inquiry have been more fully unfolded by the American Government.
I am, &c. (Signed) A. GODLEY.
[2918 9-1]
1
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