CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918 — Page 428

424

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[34240]

(No. 127.)

C

о

[March 2135023

SECTION 1..

IREC

REG 17 JUL 18

No. 1.

Mr. Balfour to Sir J. Jordan.

Foreign Office, March 2, 1918.

(Telegraphic.)

YOUR despatch No. 351 of 3rd November: Opium.

As the reports from our consular officers are all favourable there would not appear to be any reason or advantage in further delaying our consent to the formal closing of the remaining six provinces and the determination of the 1911 Agreement.

It has occurred to us, however, that it might not be advisable to pass over in silence the Chinese Government's note of the 18th May, 1917, and the illegal and premature closing of the ports of Shanghai and Canton. After consultation, there- fore, with the India Office, we suggest that, if you see no objection, you should intimate to the Chinese Government that you are prepared to arrange with them for the formal closing of the six provinces and the determination of the 1911 Agreement as soon as you receive note cancelling or withdrawing the note of the 18th May, as an admission of their misinterpretation of the conditions of the 1911 Agreement.

[2801 b-1]