CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 83

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a Siberia)

Sir:-

C.0.

FOREIGN OFFICE.

1678

January 9th, 1909.

The 15 JAN DO

81

I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to send

you herewith a copy of a letter from the India Office

enclosing a telegram from the Government of India de-

precating the discussion by the International Opium

Commission (1) of the issue and consumption of opium

in India, and (2) of the arrangements for the gradual

and provisional restriction of the opium trade between

India and China.

Sir E. Grey concurs in the view of the Secretary

of State for India that it will be impossible to re-

fuse to discuss these points if they should be raised

by the Commission. In such event you should adopt

in the matter of the first point the course suggested

by Lord Morley, while, as regards the second point,

it is proposed to await from His Majesty's Minister at

Peking a telegraphic Report which will be repeated by

him

The Right Honourable

Sir C. Clementi Smith, G.C.M.G.,

British Consulate General,

Shanghai.