CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12] — Page 521

py.

1.12.

1978).

Sir:-

CO

910

2372

THE HAGUE. EGE 23 JAN 12

January 20th 1912.

In reply to your despatch No.18 of the 17th in-

stant, we have the honour to state that the object of

paragraph 10 of the clauses in regard to ratification

and signature of the Opium Convention was, as you sur-

mised, to give time for the communication by the Nether-

land Government to all the Powers affected of the final

ratification, and also to afford a short interval dur-

ing which preliminary steps might be taken to provide

for the carrying out of such measures as can be put in-

to effect without the further delay involved by the pro-

visions of paragraphs 11 and 13, for instance the ex-

change of statistics &c., referred to in Article 21 of

the Convention itself, see the latest draft,

herewith.

enclosed

For this reason it would not be feasible to delete

paragraph 10 as suggested by the Board of Trade.

The Board's suggestion that provision should be

made

Right Honourable

Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.,

&C. › &C.,

&C.