CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12] — Page 593

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

581

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

3535

LOO

rat 5 FEB 12 January 19.]

SECTION

[2678)

No. 1.

Sir Edward Grey to British Delegates to International Opium Conference. (No. 19) Sir,

Foreign Office, January 19, 1912. WITH reference to Mr. Langley's telegram of the 15th instant, I transmit to you herewith copy of a declaration regarding the application of the proposed Opium Convention to His Majesty's dominions and Far Eastern possessions, which you should make and have inserted in the "protocole de clôture" of the convention.

You will observe that the terms of this declaration differ slightly from those of the declaration contained in Mr. Max Müller's letter of the 13th instant addressed to Mr. Langley. The alterations have been made after consultation with the India Office and Colonial Office, who wished to make it quite clear that the convention did not bind the Indian Empire or any British dominions or colonies before the United Kingdom was bound by it. The substitution of the word "siguing" for the words "adhering to" was rendered necessary by the fact that all foreign States who are not represented at the conference are to be invited to sign the convention and not to adhere to it.

I am, &c.

E. GREY.

[2340 t-2]