This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[42740]
No. 1.
662
[December 7.]
SECTION 2.
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received December 7.)
Sir,
Downing Street, December 5, 1908. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 20th October, I am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, a copy of a letter from the India Office dealing with the suggestion made by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for discussion at the International Opium Conference.
2. Lord Crewe concurs in the views expressed by the Secretary of State for India, and I am to inclose a copy of a despatch which he has addressed to the Governor-General of Australia.
I am, &c.
(Signed) C. P. LUCAS.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir,
India Office to Colonial Office.
India Office, November 25, 1908.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 14th November last, on the subject suggested by the Commonwealth Government for consideration by the International Opium Commission.
In reply, I am to remark that the American Government, in proposing the Commission to the Powers, explained the object to be the investigation of the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East, and have described the task of the Commissioners as that of making "jointly or severally definite suggestions of measures which their respective Governments may adopt looking to the gradual suppression of opium cultivation, traffic, and use within their Eastern possessions, and thus assisting China in her purpose of eradicating the evil in the Empire." I am also to invite attention to this Office letter of the 22nd June last to the Foreign Office, in which it was suggested that the Commission should first inquire into the facts regarding the production, commerce, use, and disadvantages of opium in the Far East, and should next consider the precise nature of the remedies which the present circumstances of the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East may require. It is understood from the note of the American Ambassador dated the 8th November last that the Government of the United States concur in this view of the course which the Commission's investigations should pursue.
In Viscount Morley's opinion it would scarcely be consistent with what has already been settled as to the latitude to be left to the Commission to include the proposals of the Commonwealth Government in the terms of reference, and he does not recommend that they should be communicated for this purpose to the American Government.
I am, &c. (Signed) A. GODLEY.
[2050 g-2]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[42740]
No. 1.
662
[December 7.]
SECTION 2.
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received December 7.)
Sir,
Downing Street, December 5, 1908. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 20th October, I am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, a copy of a letter from the India Office dealing with the suggestion made by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for discussion at the Inter- national Opium Conference.
2. Lord Crewe concurs in the views expressed by the Secretary of State for India, and I am to inclose a copy of a despatch which he has addressed to the Governor- General of Australia.
I am, &c.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(Signed)
C. P. LUCAS.
Sir,
India Office to Colonial Office.
India Office, November 25, 1908.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 14th November last, on the subject suggested by the Commonwealth Government for consideration by the International Opium Commission.
In reply, I am to remark that the American Government, in proposing the Com- mission to the Powers, explained the object to be the investigation of the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East, and have described the task of the Conimissioners as that of making "jointly or severally definite suggestions of measures which their respective Governments may adopt looking to the gradual suppression of opium cultivation, traffic, and use within their Eastern possessions, and thus assisting China in her purpose of eradicating the evil in the Erapire." I am also to invite attention to this Office letter of the 22nd June last to the Foreign Office, in which it was suggested that the Commission should first inquire into the facts regarding the production, commerce, use, and disadvantages of opium in the Far East, and should next consider the precise nature of the remedies which the present circumstances of the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East may require. It is understood from the note of the American Ambassador dated the 8th November last that the Government of the United States concur in this view of the course which the Commission's investigations should pursuO.
In Viscount Morley's opinion it would scarcely be consistent with what has already been settled as to the latitude to be left to the Commission to include the· proposals of the Commonwealth Government in the terms of reference, and he does not recommend that they should be communicated for this purpose to the American Government.
I am,
&c. (Signed)
A. GODLEY.
[2050 g-2]
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