CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 529

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government-1

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[1101]

No. 1..

522

20352

RECE

REG 5 JUN 14

[January 9.]

SECTION 1.

Sir,

Board of Trade to Foreign Office.-(Received January 9.)

Board of Trade, January 8, 1914.

I AM directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th December, 1913, respecting the question of the ratification by His Majesty's Government of the International Opium Convention.

Sir E. Grey will recollect that, in their letter of the 5th March last, the Board expressed the opinion that the non-adherence of the convention of four countries in particular, viz., Austria-Hungary, Switzerland, Norway, and Peru, would tend to defeat the objects for which that instrument was drawn up. It appears from the report of the British delegates to the second Opium Conference, copy of which accompanied your letter under reply, that the two latter States, Norway and Peru, have now signed the convention, and the Board note from your letter that Switzerland has announced her intention of signing shortly, whilst Austria-Hungary is understood to be about to declare her readiness to sign.

In the circumstances the Board are disposed to suggest, for Sir E. Grey's consideration, that His Majesty's Government would do well to await a definite announcement of the intentions of Austria-Hungary in the matter before ratifying the conventions. Should, however, a satisfactory announcement be made by that State on the subject, the Board see no objection to its immediate ratification, without waiting for the actual signature of the convention either by Austria-Hungary or Switzerland.

I am, &c.

GEO. J. STANLEY.

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