CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 177

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production, manufacture and distribution of opium, ita

derivatives and preparations, and expresses the view

that they do not believe that it is desirable that this

question should be brought up. In regard to this item

it has been explained to the French and British Govern-

ments that a mistake was made by this Government in

using the words "uniform national laws"; that they

should have been "effective national laws"; that item

(g) proposes the application of the pharmacy laws of

the Governments concerned to their subjects in the

consular districts, concessions and settlements in

China, and expresses the view that at present it would

seem to be impossible to accomplish this purpose as it

would tend to place in the hands of the Chinese or

nationals of countries not signatories to a convention,

the exercise of the profession of pharmacy in the

Concessions; that item (1) as to the establishment of

uniform provisions of penal laws concerning offences

against any agreement that the powers may make in

regard to opium production would mean a modification of

French penal laws, and that this is such a grave ques-

tion that the Government of the Republic is not prepared

to bring it up in the French Parliament. As to items

(1)