File No. 893.114/172
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)
1056. The American Legation at Peking in a strictly confidential telegram gives information of a plan entertained by certain members of the Chinese Government to revive the opium trade under control of a monopoly. It is said to be their purpose to buy for this purpose [Page 211] the stocks of opium now in Shanghai. Please inquire discreetly at the British Foreign Office whether any measures are in contemplation there looking towards the prevention of this reactionary movement which would undo all that Great Britain and India have made such sacrifices to achieve.