CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910 — Page 147

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scheme for the annual reduction of the import of opium and the

ultimate extinction of the trade in ten years' time, have in

the circumstances done all that can be reasonably expacted.

ore especially is this the case, considering that the Chinese

Government have yet to prove the diminution in the cultivation

of the poppy in certain provinces of their own Empire.. f143

circumstances have arisen which justify any further sacrifices,

it seems to the egociation that it would be better to make them

dealing directly and single handed with Chins from motives of

friendship, rather than to follow the finding of an International

Conference which would create an impression that is ajesty's

Government were yielding to outride moral pressure.

woreover, in view of the Resolutions passed by the Opium

commission held at shanghai last year, which are now engaging

the attention of the Governmente' of Indie end of the Jastern

Colonies the Association fail to discover any warrant for this

intrusion by the American Government into a field in which their

interests are so microscopic, and with upwerde of six years of the Aercoment for the gradual extinction of the opium trade still to run, my Committee strongly deprecate any further attempt

either to excite world-wide attention, or, less, to provoke

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international discussion of the question which primarily con-

if cerns Great Britain and her Indian Dependency, and which, assented to might envolve her in serious difficulties and great

commercial lose.

3 Committee cannot conceive that is lajesty's Government is called upon to bring their Treaty engagements with China under review by the llague Tribunal and they therefore venture to hope that is "ajesty's Government will meet the invitation of the Government of the United States, if such has been given

with an unqualified refusal.

I have the honour to be

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

Chairman.