CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 152

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deference to the suggestion of His Majesty's Government that

the Powers interested in the opium question should proceed

by way of a Commission preliminary to any action which

might be taken by the Powers jointly or severally, the Gov-

erment of the United States proposed such a Commission to

the interested Powers. That Commission met at Shanghai and

studied the opium problem not only as seen in the Far East,

but

in its widest bearings. Based on the findings of the

Commission, my Government on September lat last proposed a

Conference to the interested Fowers which should give to the

main salutary propositions of the Commission and the easen-

tial corollaries derived therefrom the force of law and

international agreement.

As of possible interest to His Majesty's Goverment I

have the honour to inform you that the following Governments

have accepted the proposal of the United States Government

and have declared their intention of sending delegates to

the Conference

·

China, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Nether-

lands, Fortugal, Fersia, Russia and Siam.

A favourable reply is expected in the near future

from