CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 267

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[26994]

266

[July 25.)

со

32743

SECTION 1,

No. 1.Arch

Mer 25 OCT 10)

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--Received July 25.)

(No. 129.) (Telegraphic.) P.

Peking, July 25, 1910, IN continuation of my telegram No. 125 of the 22nd instant regarding opium, I beg to report that I have received a note on Saturday which merely repeated the verbal arguments of the Wai-wu Pu, and states that the Chinese Government are unable to comply with my request, that no arbitrary reduction be made in the number of wholesale traders, and that there should be no interference with the wholesale trade in treaty ports, as it was not in accordance with the original agreement; that till the complete extinction of the trade in ten years the three years agreement must be prolonged automatically; and that a fresh arrangement need not therefore be negotiated.

Being unwell, 1 at once invited Mr. Liu to call on me, and told him that this reply appeared to me to be most unfriendly, and that if it were announced in Parliament the cffect would be deplorable. I once more explained how liberal were the terms which His Majesty's Government were ready to offer. Yesterday Mr. Liu came back and informed me that the note had been drafted on a misapprehension, and that he would probably be delegated to open negotiations with me.

I have just received official confirmation of Mr. Liu's appointment for this purpose.

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