CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 81

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

со

34597

RECO

[October 9.]

Rraf 27 OCT 1

SECTION 1.

[39508]

(No. 114.) Sir,

No. 1.

Mr. Gaisford to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received October 9.)

Lisbon, October 3, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 31 of the 21st June, 1910, I have the honour to report that the Minister for Foreign Affairs at his last reception mentioned to me the subject of the International Opium Conference to be held at The Hague. He stated that Portugal, d'accord with Great Britain, had decided to be represented, but that she expected a quid pro quo. The suppression of the opium habit at Macau would, said his Excellency, entail considerable loss to the exchequer of the colony, and Portugal could not support such loss without compensation.

I asked Senhor Chagas what form he proposed that compensation should take, and he replied "the withdrawal of Chinese opposition to the construction of the Macau-Canton Railway." If this line were running, said his Excellency, the prosperity of Macau would be greatly increased, and he counted much on the support of His Majesty's Government to make its construction an accomplished fact.

Senhor Chagas requested me to communicate in this sense with you, and to treat the matter as quite confidential.

I have, &c.

HUGH GAISFORD.

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