2
of ten years. There was never any mention of the continuation of the agreement for a further term of three years.
With reference to allowing the merchants engaged in the wholesale trade with China to trade freely within the treaty ports and to the question of not reducing the number of wholesale dealers, then in these circumstances opium cannot be gradually reduced each year, nor will it be possible to extinguish the trade entirely in ten years. Mr. Max Müller's statements would therefore appear not to be in accordance with the original arrangement.
As regards the request made recently at an interview at the Board by Mr. Max Müller that an official should be appointed to negotiate, the Board is of opinion that, as the original agreement can be fulfilled, it is not necessary to negotiate a fresh arrangement.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[B]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[30202]
No. 1.
C O 2/914
[August 19]
SECTION 1.
31
(Memo.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to Mr. Max Müller.
July 25, 1910.
IN a conversation a few days ago with Mr. Liu Yu-lin, of the Wai-wu Pu, Mr. Max Müller spoke as follows:---
it
Every year, apart from the import into China, there are 16,000 chosts of opium exported from India to various other places in the globe which are not included in the gradual reduction scheme, and of late, owing to the high price of opium in China, the opium sent to other parts of the world has found its way into China by circuitous routes. His Majesty's Government, considering that such a state of affairs is contrary to the spirit of a rigorous movement against opium, have therefore sent me special His Majesty's Government instructions to suggest an arrangement with your Board.
put forward three measures-
"1. To extend the present trial agreement another three years.
"2. That China should take measures to prevent the 16,000 chests of opium from being brought into China by circuitous routes.
"3. That China should arrange to obtain the consent of all nations to a restriction of the amount of opium imported.
"His Majesty's Government are animated by the same feelings as China with regard to opium prohibition, and are very willing to make efforts to assist China."
The Board would observe that measures 2 and 3 above mentioned, viz., taking steps to prevent Indian opium from reaching China by circuitous routes, and the restricting by China of the amount of opium imported, have a very important bearing on the opinn prohibition movement, and they are extremely grateful for Great Britain's willingness to assist. Mr. Liu Yu-lin, junior councillor of the board, has therefore heen appointed to negotiate an arrangement with Mr. Max Müller.
As regards the extension of the present period, the Board are very willing that His Majesty's Government should carry out a thorough investigation, and thus learn that within these last three years China has really met with success in the work of opium suppression. That being the case, His Majesty' Government should consent to Such a a gradual reduction until the trade is totally extinguished within ten years. step would be still more in accordance with the original arrangement.
Sir,
Board of Trade to Foreign Office.(Received August 19.)
Board of Trade, August 18, 1910. WITH reference to your letter of the 27th July, and its enclosures, respecting the proposed Opium Conference at The Hague, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for Sir E. Grey's information, that they concur in the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Conference held at the Foreign Office on the 12th July to consider the proposals of the United States Government in the matter and suggest the terms of a reply to that Government. The Board would be glad to be favoured in due course with copy of the reply actually sent.
I am to add that they are in communication with the Commissioners of Customs and Excise with a view to obtaining information respecting the British manufacture and exports of morphia and cocaine, having regard to the concluding sentences of paragraph 2 of the recommendations.
I Bin,
&c. GEO. J. STANLEY.
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