CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12] — Page 354

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

OPIUM,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[48005]

No. 1.

со

434

PRE JAN 12

[December 1.]

SECTION 1.

Sir,

Home Office to Foreign Office.--(Received December 1.)

Whitehall, November 30, 1911. WITH reference to your letter of the 28th instant on the subject of the international conference on the opium question, I am directed by Mr. Secretary McKenna to say that he consulted the Privy Council Office in the matter, and to transmit to you, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, a copy of the reply received.

I am to add that the information as to the law governing the sale of opium, &c., in this country, referred to in the Privy Council Office letter, was conveyed to you in the letter from this department of the 24th September, 1909.

Mr. McKenna does not know that there is any other information or advice which he can usefully give in the present circumstances. Legislation would be required to give effect to some of the proposals contained in the memorandum accompanying your letter of the 28th instant, and, as he presumes that the delegates to the conference will not be authorised to bind this country to legislation, he thinks that detailed consideration of the proposals must, having regard to the fact that the conference begins to-morrow, await the results of the conference.

I am, &c.

W. P. BYRNE.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Sir,

Privy Council Office to Home Office.

Privy Council Office, November 30, 1911. IN acknowledging the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with enclosure, relating to the international conference on the opium question, which is to assemble at The Hague to-morrow, the 1st proximo, I am directed by the Lord President of the Council to state that the information as to the law governing the sale of opium in this country given in the letters from this Office to the Home Office, dated respectively the 14th October, 1908, and the 11th September, 1909, is still up to date, and to add that, in his Lordship's opinion, no particular observations would appear to be called for from this department on the st suggestions" proposed to be furnished for the guidance of the British delegates to the conference as to which legislation would be required to give effect to some of the proposals involved.

I am,

&c.

ALMERIC FITZROY.

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