File No. 774/665–666.
Minister Bryan to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Lisbon, October 12,
1909.
No. 552.]
Sir: Referring to the circular instructions,
file 774, of September 1, 1909, with regard to the International Opium
Commission, I have the honor to report that, prompted by the
communication which I made to the foreign office on this subject when
transmitting the substance of the said circular, the Portuguese
Government has taken immediate action by naming a commission to
thoroughly consider the recommendation of our Government on this
subject. I inclose a copy, with translation, of the proclamation.
Following is a list of the commissioners: Messrs. Jose de Azevedo
Castello Branco, Arnaldo Guedes Rebello, Francisco Diogo de Sa, Jose
Navarro de Andrade, Oscar Potier, Annibal Augusto Sanches de Sousa
Miranda.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
the vice of opium in maçau.
The official paper publishes to-day the following proclamation issued
by the second section of the general bureau of the colonies:
It being indispensable to proceed at once to the study of measures to
regulate the opium trade, which was the purpose of the deliberations
of the international commission which met in Shanghai between the
1st to the 26th of February, and to adopt measures leading to the
gradual suppression of the vice of opium to be enforced in the
Province of Maçau, modifying the system now in force pursuant to the
general principles of the new international accord, having
especially in view whatever has been adopted by the neighboring
English colony of Hongkong, His Majesty the King, through the
department of the navy and colonies, has decided to appoint a
commission composed of Councillor Jose de Azevedo Castello Branco,
peer of the realm, former minister of Portugal to Peking, who will
act as president; Councillor Arnaldo Guedes Rebello, colonel of
artillery, former governor of Magau; Lieut. Francisco Diogo de Sa,
former chief of the naval station of Magau and governor ad interim
of the Province; Councillor Jose Navarro de Andrade, general
inspector of the
[Page 113]
financial
department of the colonies; Oscar Potier, consul general of Portugal
in Shanghai and delegate of the Portuguese Government in the
International Opium Commission; Captain of Artillery Annibal Augusto
Sanches de Sousa Miranda, former commander of the company of
artillery of the Magau garrison; Guelherme Augusto de Menzes, acting
as secretary of the commission, also inspector of the financial
department of the colonies, which commission, studying the subject
under the general and special point of view of the Province of Maçau
and at the same time duly taking into consideration the interests
resulting to this Province from the trade of opium, either for
consumption or for exports, will present to the Government
suggestions of measures that it may consider advisable and
opportune, so as to enable the Portuguese Government to comply with
the tacit accord to collaborate effectively with the powers adhering
to the final resolutions of the International Commission of
Shanghai.
Etc., etc., etc.,
Manuel Periera.
Signed at the Palace, October 4, 1909.
