CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 162

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 160

C.O.

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[3442]

13969

[January 26.]

RECO

SECTION 1.

REG 24 APR 09

No. 1.

}

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received January 26.)

Peking, January 26, 1909.

(No. 34.) (Telegraphic.) P. OPIUM. The native press has published reports to the effect that, according to assurances given me by the Wai-wu Pu, the Chinese Delegates at the Opium Conference have received instructions to make no proposals on their own initiative, and generally to adopt a passive attitude.

One of the American Commissioners telegraphed these reports from Shanghae to the American Minister, who came to see me on the subject to-day. I explained to him that the Chinese Government were quite satisfied with the Arrangement concluded with us in 1907, and that they had informed me of their decision to take no action at the Conference likely to disturb that Arrangement.

Mr. Rockhill expressed his concurrence in the opinion that an Arrangement which was so efficacious in encouraging the Chinese to persevere in their efforts should be left untouched.

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