CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 11

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

C.O.

24265

RECO

OPIUM.

[January 22.]

REG 6 JUL 14

SECTION 2.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[3035]

No. 1.

Sir M. de Bunsen to Sir Edward Grey.(Received January 22.)

(No. 17.) Sir,

Vienna, January 20, 1914. ON receipt of your despatch No. 6 of the 17th instant, I immediately made unofficial enquiries as to whether the Austro-Hungarian Government had signed the Opium Convention, and was informed that, although they had definitely decided to sign, the differences as to the form of signature which prevailed between the Austrian and the Hungarian Governments had not yet found a settlement. While the Austrian Government were of opinion that the signature should represent the whole Monarchy, the Hungarian Government were still holding out for the right to sign separately. Count Berchtold is championing the Austrian point of view, but, in spite of this, not even those nearest concerned can foretell when a compromise will be effected. There is no actual fear of the matter being shelved, as the Dutch Minister appears every second day at the Ministry in order to urge acceleration in the negotiations now in progress between the two Governments.

I will not fail to keep in touch with the Ministry on this question, and to report any progress which may be made.

I have, &c.

MAURICE DE BUNSEN.

[2032 y-2]

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