CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 660

1

*

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

(39933]

(No. 530.) Sir,

No. 1,

Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.

656

[November 23.]

SECTION 4.

Foreign Office, November 23, 1908, I HAVE received your despatch No. 464 of the 21st ultimo respecting new Regulations at Canton for licensing opium shops.

I concur in the view contained in the penultinate paragraph of your despatch that it is difficult to object to the Regulations ab initio, and inadvisable, as Hong Kong firms seem satisfied, to take any further action in the matter, if the Canton Viceroy carries out his promise to issue a Proclamation pointing out that his new Regulations only apply to the retail trade in opium.

[2020 %-4]

I am, &c.

(Signed)

E. GREY.

Page 660Page 661

[63 dur=74]