>
C-0.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, 5
[B]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[Rece
. 15 007 08
[October 3.1
SECTION 1.
(33991]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Whitelaw Reid.
THE Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has had under his consideration the Memorandum communicated by the American Ambassador on the 1st instant, inquiring the views of His Majesty's Government in regard to the proposal of the Secretary of State at Washington to give the American Commissioners to the Opium Conference at Shanghae the rank of Ministers Plenipotentiary.
Sir E. Grey has the honour to inform Mr. Whitelaw Reid that to give similar rank to the British Delegates would be quite contrary to the practice of His Majesty's Government with regard to a Conference of this nature, and would in their view constitute an inconvenient precedent.
Sir E. Grey ventures therefore to deprecate the suggestion, and as he understands that the scope of the Commission is to co-operate and offer suggestions for measures which may be adopted for the gradual suppression of opium cultivation, traffic, and use within the eastern possessions of the countries represented, he is of opinion that the title of Commissioner is more appropriate and adequate.
Foreign Office, October 3, 1908.
[1980 c-1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.