File No. 774/694.

The Secretary of State to the Italian Chargé.

No. 832.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Baron Mayor’s note of the 12th ultimo, in which he informed me that this Government’s circular letter dated September 1, 1909, proposing an International Opium Conference, communicated to him by the Department of State in its note of September 21 last, was forwarded to the King’s Government at Rome, where, as he was informed by the royal minister of foreign affairs, it has received the careful consideration of the Kingdom’s authorities concerned, and that the King’s Government, desiring as it does to continue cooperating in the humanitarian purpose of the proposed conference (to which it purposes to appoint its delegates immediately on learning exactly when and where the meeting will take place), deems it its duty to make some reservation with regard to the proposition marked (n) of the tentative program, relative to the creation of an international commission charged with the duty of enforcing any international agreement which may be effected as to opium production and trade.

Permit me to express this Government’s high appreciation of the favorable action taken by the King’s Government in regard to the conference, and to assure you that this Government is in entire agreement with the reservation made by His Majesty’s Government in regard to the proposition marked (in) of the tentative program. As stated by Baron Mayor, it can not be supposed in fact that such an international commission, if provided for by the conference, will be invested in this case with executive powers such as would amount to meddling in any way with the internal administration of the several participant States. It is the view of this Government that such an international commission or office would be charged with no authority beyond supervising the execution of any provisions made by the forthcoming conference.

This Government is in hearty accord with the views of the King’s Government in regard to the Indian hemp or hashish trade. There can be no doubt that it is at present a weighty matter, as that as the suppression of excessive opium production proceeds, there is great danger that the production and trade in Indian hemp will replace it, unless there is concurrent action against it by the interested powers. The King’s Government may feel assured that any proposals made in the forthcoming conference for the placing of the production and trade in Indian hemp under regulations that may be made to apply to the production and trade in opium will receive the full sympathy and the support of this Government.

I am happy to be able to inform you that in addition to the King’s Government the Governments of China, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Russia have accepted this Government’s proposals for an International Opium Conference; that the Netherlands Government has expressed a desire that the proposed conference be held at The Hague, and that when this Government notifies it as to the adhering powers the Government of the Queen will issue the necessary invitations to the conference. Further, that the [Page 302] British Government is considering the invitation of this Government, and that the foreign office is now in consultation with the India office in regard to the tentative program submitted in the circular letter of September 1 last.

Accept, etc.,

P. C. Knox.