This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
★ CONFIDENTIAL.
[40345]
No. 1.
43818
[November 18.]
XC.08
SECTION 2.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Whitelaw Reid.
Your Excellency,
Foreign Office, November 18, 1908.
WITH reference to my note of the 12th instant, I have the honour to state that, though the United States' Government suggest that the proposals originally made by them on the subject of the scope of the International Opium Commission should be modified in the sense indicated in your Excellency's note of the 8th instant, it is not clear to His Majesty's Government how the instructions to the Delegates on the Commission should now be worded.
It would seem that the new proposals are intended to take the place of clause 3 of the draft instructions suggested in your Excellency's note of the 8th May last. The wording now proposed accepts the principle that the Commission should first investigate the facts regarding the production, commerce, use, and disadvantages of opium in China and the Far East, and that findings on these facts and as to the actual remedies required must precede useful discussion of the amendments needed in the opium Regulations of countries other than those in the Far East. That being so, it would seem that clauses 1 and 2 of the original draft instructions are no longer required.
I shall be grateful if your Excellency would inform me at your earliest convenience whether the American Government concur in the view that the instructions suggested in your note of the 8th instant may be interpreted as superseding the draft instructions numbered (1), (2), and (3) in your note of the 8th May last.
I have, &c. (Signed) E. GREY.
[2020 s-2]
304
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government] (.
CHINA TRADE.
★ CONFIDENTIAL.
[40345]
No. 1.
43818
[November 18.1.
XC. 08
SECTION 2.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Whitelaw Reid.
Your Excellency,
Foreign Office, November 18, 1908. WITH reference to my note of the 12th instant, I have the honour to state that, though the United States' Government suggest that the proposals originally made by them on the subject of the scope of the International Opium Commission should be modified in the sense indicated in your Excellency's note of the 8th instant, it is not clear to His Majesty's Government how the instructions to the Delegates on the Com- mission should now be worded.
It would seem that the new proposals are intended to take the place of clause 3 of the draft instructions suggested in your Excellency's note of the 8th May last. The wording now proposed accepts the principle that the Commission should first investi- gate the facts regarding the production, comunerce, use, and disadvantages of opium in China and the Far East, and that findings on these facts and as to the actual remedies required must precode useful discussion of the amendments needed in the opium Regulations of countries other than those in the Far East. That being so, it would seem that clauses 1 and 2 of the original draft instructions are no longer required.
I shall be grateful if your Excellency would inform me at your earliest convenience whether the American Government concur in the view that the instructions suggested in your note of the 8th instant may be interpreted as superseding the draft instructions numbered (1), (2), and (3) in your note of the 8th May last.
I have, &c. (Signed) E. GREY.
[2020 s-2]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.