CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 376

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

[A]

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[July 2.]

C 373 22504

Rece 12222 JUL 10

SECTION 1.

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[23734]

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Conference:

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much

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importance.

BU

As purpose

No. 1.

Sir,

India Office to Foreign Office.--(Received July 2.)

India Office, July 1, 1910. WITH reference to your letter dated the 14th June, 1910, and preceding correspondence, on the subject of the proposed opium conference at The Hague, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to forward, to be laid before Secretary Sir Edward Grey, a copy of a letter from the Government of India containing their views on the question.

I am to say that Lord Morley is disposed to think that a conference for the purpose of conventionalising the recommendations of the Shanghai Commission would be premature at present, and that the more extended programme which the Government of the United States have suggested as a basis for discussion contains matter which is outside the recommendations of the Shanghai Commission, and which on other grounds open to objection. In particular, the treaties and diplomatic arrangements of His Majesty's Government with China should not, in his opinion, be submitted to a conference.

is

I am to add that before coming to a final conclusion on the subject, Lord Morley will be glad to see the recommendations of the interdepartmental conference which it has been decided to hold for the purpose of considering the proposals of the American Governinent, and suggesting the terms of a reply.

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Colonel July

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29.7 atonce

Enclosure in No. 1.

I am; &c.

ED. MONTAGU.

Government of India to Viscount Morley.

My Lord,

Simla, May 26, 1910. WE have the honour to reply to your Lordship's despatch of the 12th November, 1909, inviting our opinion on the expediency of the proposal to convene an international conference on opium which has been put forward by the United States Government, and also on the scope of its labours.

2. The scheme of the United States Government is set forth in a circular letter dated the 1st September, 1909. Postulating "the suppression of the opium evil" as a common end in view, and "impressed" (as the letter states) "by the gravity of the problem and the desirability of divesting it of local and unwise agitation, as well as the necessity of maintaining it upon the basis of fact as determined by the Shanghai Commission, the United States deems it important that international effect and sanction be given to the resolutions of the International Opium Commission, and to this and that the delegates end proposes that an International Conference be held should have full powers to conventionalise the resolutions adopted at Shanghai and their necessary consequences." The letter then proceeds to set forth a tentative programme of fourteen items which is declared not to be exhaustive.

It is also stated that it "was recoguised by the (Shanghai) Commission as a whole that their resolutions, however important morally, would fail to satisfy enlightened public opinion unless by subsequent agreement of the Fowers they and the minor questions involved in them were incorporated in an international convention."

3. As regards the last point, we believe the United States Government to have been misinformed. Nor do we anticipate that the step proposed will discourage agitation. But, as we shall explain more fully to your Lordship in replying to your despatch dated the 6th August, 1909, we accept the recommendations of the

[2812 -1]

* See Foreign Office letter, dated 2nd December, 1909.