CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 581

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the tentative programme proposed in the

Circular letter of the United States Gov-

ernment. These they are not prepared to

discuss, and in particular they would wish

to exclude from consideration by the Con-

ference

(1) The arrangement made between His

Majesty's Government and China respecting

the progressive restriction of opium im-

ports and of opium production in China.

(2) Other existing Treaties between

the two countries.

I should also draw Your Excellency's

attention to the fact that in item (a) of

the programme the epithet "uniform" is op-

posed to the express finding of the Shang-

hal Commission. The Commission recognis-

ed that the production, manufacture and

distribution of opium could not be subject-

ed to uniform laws, and it appears undesir-

able to His Majesty's Government in view

of this finding that the question should

again be raised.

Subject