2
Shanghai Commission, and declaring that, as regards the subjects for discussion other than morphia and cocaine, they should, in their opinion, be those indicated in the recommendations of that commission, felt bound to take exception to the following items of the American tentative programme :-
(h.) The propriety of restudying treaty obligations and international agreements under which the opium traffic is at present conducted.
(1) The advisability of reciprocal right of search of vessels suspected of carrying contraband opium.
(m.) The advisability of measures to prevent the unlawful use of a flag by vessels engaged in the opium traffic.
(n.) The advisability of an international commission to be entrusted with the carrying out of
any international agreement concluded.
The above subjects His Majesty's Government are not prepared to discuss, and they further consider that the following matters should be excluded from consideration by the conference : —
1. The arrangements made between His Majesty's Government and China respecting the progressive restriction of the importation and production of opium in China.
2. All other existing treaties between the two countries.
3. Any resolution specifically affecting the domestic regulation of the production and use of opium and cognate questions of internal administration in India, or any other portion of the British dominions.
You should therefore refuse to enter into discussion at the conference of any of the above subjects, though this proviso does not preclude your communicating to the conference, if desired, any information in regard to systems of regulation in India or the colonies that might be of assistance to the labours of the delegates.
Further delay was caused by the time involved in making the necessary preliminary studies as to the trade conditions and manufacture of morphia and cocaine in the countries concerned; but finally all the countries interested, having notified their compliance with the conditions precedent, His Majesty's Government signified their readiness to attend a conference, and invitations were issued by the Netherlands Government for the 1st December.
Originally the United States Government promised a definitive programme based upon the suggestions and views of the participating Governments, but they subsequently withdrew this promise, and stated that they would merely collate and prepare for circulation at the meeting of the conference the reservations and proposals received from the various Governments, while the conference itself would draw up the final programme based on such reservations and proposals, whether communicated previously to the United States Government or made at the opening of the conference.
Under these circumstances it is difficult to provide you with more definite instructions than those stated above, but you should refer to this Office for instructions on any point on which you are in doubt.
Finally, I would add that your powers to enter into any agreement are not plenary, but are merely of an ad referendum nature. You will also bear in mind that any convention that you may sign will not thereby be binding on any of His Majesty's self-governing dominions, colonies, or protectorates, but you will be careful to secure for them the right to adhere to any such convention should they wish to.
I an, &c.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[49307]
No. 1.
467
C O
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Rear 20 JAN 12
[December 8.]
SECTION 3.
Sir C. Clementi Smith to Sia Edward Grey.-(Received December 8.)
(Commercial.) (Telegraphic.)
[By Post.]
*
The Hague, December 8, 1911. A QUESTION is likely to arise as to a definition of "preparation of opium apart from definitions of raw, prepared, and medicinal opium, which have already been agreed upon by the conference, and apart from a definition of morphine, its salts and derivatives, which have been drafted and await adoption by the conference.
The definition which may be suggested will probably include officinal and non- officinal preparations for internal use, and the percentage of morphia which they may contain have to be fixed (such as 1 per cent., 5 per cent., or 05 per cent.).
may
[2297 h---3]
E. GREY.
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