This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38926]
No. 1.
639
[November 9.]
SECTION 2.
(No. 255.) Sir,
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 9.)
Takid, October 3, 1908. WITH reference to my telegram No. 71 of to-day's date, I have the honour to report that upon receipt of your despatch No. 204 of the 13th August last, received on the 9th September, I drew the attention of Count Komura to the question of the restriction of the importation of morphia into China, and at an interview which took place on the 10th September his Excellency promised to look into the matter.
At his weekly reception on the 1st instant I again questioned Count Komura on the subject, who informed me that as a result of his investigations he had come to the conclusion that there was no reason whatever for Japan to hold out in the matter; he had therefore telegraphed five days previously to the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires at Peking instructing him to notify the Japanese Government's assent to restriction to the Chinese Government.
This somewhat sudden settlement of a question respecting which the Japanese Government have for some time held out is doubtless part of the new policy of conciliation of China which has been inaugurated by the present Cabinet.
I have, &c. (Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
[2020 i-2]
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