[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
OPIUM.
"ONFIDENTIAL,
2980]
586 END 3533
[January 245 Fts 12
SECTION 1.
Sir,
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.*
£ VTCYN V poung
1010
WITH 'reference to my letter of the 20th instant, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before the Secretary of State for India, copies of two further despatches from the British delegates to the Opium Conference at The Hague.†
It will be observed that the draft convention, enclosed in the first of these despatches, differs in certain respects from the previous drafts which have been sent home by the delegates. The new points which appear to Sir E. Grey to be of the most importance are the following:-
1. The insertion of the word "règlements" after "lois" in article 9 and other articles.
**
2. The absence of any mention of the substance codeine "amongst the derivatives of opium.
3. The insertion of the words Treaty Powers" in article 15 and subsequent articles.
4. The appearance of an article (21) providing for the inter-communication of information.
5. The insertion of the word "ratification" in the first line of paragraph 9 of article 23.
(1.) The addition of the word "règlements" places administrative action on the same footing as legislative action, which appears to Sir E. Grey to be desirable.
(2.) According to information supplied to this Office by Sir W. Collins, "codeine" has been omitted from the provisions of the convention owing to the opposition of the German delegates, who did not consider that the harmful qualities of this substance It will be observed that if and had been sufficiently established for it to be included. when such qualities are generally recognised, "codeine "will, by virtue of clause (d) of article 14, fall within the provisions of the convention.
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(3.) The words " Treaty Powers are inserted for the reason that China can herself take what measures she pleases against Powers with whom she is not bound
treaty.
(4.) The provisions for the inter-communication of information and documents ppears to be a useful complement to the provisions of the convention.
>
(5.) The word "ratification has been added in order to provide for the contingency that would arise if all the Powers signed the convention but some abstained from ratifying it.
The above-mentioned changes, together with others of a verbal and minor character, appear to Sir E. Grey to constitute an improvement on the earlier drafts of the convention, which, as it now stands, promises to inaugurate important and beneficial reLUS.
does not therefore bile safeguarding adequately special British interests. Sir E. Grey rfere with the discretion of the British delegates ir
signing it.
The "protocole de clôture," also enclose
Sir E. Grey to contain any provisions to which exception 13 does not appea
bo observed that, in its present form, it contains no mention
regarding the position of His Majesty's dominions, which the delegates mit instructed to make and to have inserted in the protocol. Sir E. Grey has called t attention of the delegates to this omission, and has no doubt that steps will be take to place the declaration on record in a suitable manner.
declaration made
The second of the enclosed despatches contains a Mr. Max Müller defining the attitude of His Majesty's Government on the subject
It will be observed that this declaration will form granulated and powdered opium.
an integral part of the minutes of the conference.
W. LANGLEY.
I am, &c.
† British Delegates, Nos. 12 and bô
* Also to Colonial Office and Board of Trade, mutatis mutandis.
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