File No. 774/709.
Ambassador O’Brien
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Tokio
,
February 22,
1910
.
No. 1057.]
Sir: Referring to the embassy’s dispatch of
October 13, 1909,1 in
which Mr. Jay acknowledged the receipt of the department’s circular
instruction of September 1, 1909, entitled “International Opium
Conference,” I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note from
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, dated February 21, in which he states
that the Japanese Government, while having no objection in principle to
the holding of such an international conference, requires still further
time to consider some of the points raised in the tentative
programme.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador O’Brien.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokyo
,
February 21, 1910
.
No. 10.]
Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note, F. O. No. 351,
dated the 13th of October last, proposing that with a view to giving
effect to the resolutions of the International Opium Conference
which was lately held at Shanghai, an international conference be
held at The Hague or elsewhere, composed of one or more delegates of
each of the participating powers. I beg to state in reply that the
Imperial Government have no objection in principle to the holding of
such an international conference and sending of delegates thereto,
but that many of the points raised in the tentative program
suggested by your excellency’s Government are under the control of
several Government departments and call for most careful
consideration, the Imperial Government have not only been unable to
present a reply by the date proposed, but will require still further
time.
I avail, etc.,