File No. 774/691.
The Secretary of State to Minister Beaupré.
Washington , February 16, 1910 .
Sir: The department acknowledges the receipt of your No. 285, of the 25th ultimo, together with a copy of a note from the minister of foreign affairs of the Netherlands, in which he inquires whether or not the “preliminary discussion” invited by this Government on the tentative program of the approaching opium conference suggested in the department’s circular of September 1 last, should be “a discussion in writing by way of preparation for the conference or an oral discussion between the delegates before the official opening of the conference.”
You will inform the minister of foreign affairs that the tentative program mentioned was offered as a suggestion that might properly serve as a basis at least for a formal expression of opinion in writing not only on the suggested program itself, but on the other aspects of the opium problem which might seem of peculiar importance to the Netherlands Government. Such procedure will enable this Government to prepare in advance a definitive program, based on the suggestions and views of the Netherlands and other participating Governments, to be submitted to them for a final exchange of views before the conference meets. It would seem to this Government that such a formal expression of opinion would facilitate the work of the conference and materially shorten its labors without conflicting with an oral discussion between the delegates before the official opening of the conference should such a discussion appear to be advisable.
I am, etc.,