CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 516

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[41247]

No. 1.

[November 12.]

SECTION 1.

(No. 187.)

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 12.)

(Telegraphic) R.

Peking, November 12, 1910.

YOUR telegram No. 138 of 24th October: Opium, Chinese object strongly to words "as interpreted by British Government in past contained in clause (E) of Viceroy's telegram of 15th October.

5

Sir A. Hosie and I agree that they are harsh and will give public the impression that we are unnecessarily insistent. The object is already secured by clauses (S),* (C), and (D).

I propose to omit these words and soften wording of clause.

At urgent request of Wai-wu Pu I am inserting clause as to possible increase of import duty.

I wish now to insert number of months in agreement. Please telegraph earliest possible date for enforcement of permit system. Sir A. Hosie suggests 1st July, 1911, but I should prefer earlier date if possible.

(Repeated to India.)

* (5) [sic] in original, but is obviously incorrect, and should be (A) or (B). [2980 m-]

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