CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 253

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[93234]

No. 1.

[May 8.]

SECTION 2.

(No. 108.) Sir,

Mr. Alston to Mr. Balfour.-(Received May 8.)

Peking, March 27, 1917.· WITH reference to my despatch No. 74 of the 26th ultimo on the subject of the agreement recently concluded with the Chinese Government by the pium combine, I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of a letter addressed to me by Messrs. David Sassoon and Co. (Limited) in reply to my observations regarding the unauthorised use of the name of His Majesty's Minister in the agreement.

I have informed Messrs. David Sassoon and Co. (Limited) that I have received no communication from the Wai-chiao Pu on the subject of the Opium Agreement.

(Copy to India.)

Enclosure in No. 1.

I have, &c.

B. ALSTON.

Sir,

Mesers. D. Sassoon and Co, to Mr. Alaton.

Shanghai, March 15, 1917. WE have the honour to acknowledge with thanks your letter, dated the 26th February, with reference to the Opium Agreement with the Chinese Government, the contents of which we duly note.

We extremely regret that the mention of His Majesty's Minister's name in clause 9 of the main agreement was capable of being taken exception to, and beg to assure you that the object in view was that a duly executed and authenticated copy of the agreements should be in His Majesty's Minister's hands when the matter was brought to his notice, otherwise no reference was made to His Majesty's Government or Minister.

We trust that the Wai-chiao Pu have now communicated with you officially on the subject of these agreements, and His Majesty's Government will be pleased to approve of them and protect our interests, as in our opinion these agreements offer the only solution of a most difficult problem.

We have, &c.

(For David Sassoon and Co., Limited),

A. HOWARD, Manager.

(Signed)

[2692 h-2]

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