File No. 774/103–104.
Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.
Peking,June 29, 1907.
Sir: In further acknowledgment of the department’s cablegram received June 21, directing me to secure China’s definite acceptance of the proposed opium joint commission, I have the honor to inform you that on the 21st instant I called on Na Chung-t’ang at the Wai-wu Pu, and handed him a copy in translation of your cablegram.
His excellency said that the matter referred to was absolutely new to him; that he had heard nothing official concerning it, knew neither the scope of the investigation or the methods to be followed in making it. He would see Prince Ch’ing and the president of the home office (Min Ch’eng Pu) and consult with them about it.
I explained to his excellency the object of our Government, as known to me through your instruction No. 270 of March 28 last, dwelling particularly on the fact that, considering the imperial edict of September 20, 1906, and the subsequently published regulations for the suppression of the opium habit, our Government confidently expected the prompt and hearty cooperation of the Imperial Government in conducting the investigation and furthering in every way the undertaking. I urged a prompt reply to your inquiry, saying that any delay on the part of the Government in declaring its adhesion would very likely be misunderstood and would produce a most unfortunate impression, as it would certainly shake the confidence of many in the bona fides of China’s declarations of its intention to suppress the opium habit in the Empire.
On the 24th instant I sent the Wai-wu Pu a note repeating your inquiry and offering some words of explanation on the scheme.
Having heard from various sources that the Wai-wu Pu was apprehensive that the joint commission might in some way infringe China’s sovereign rights by inquiring into her financial methods or recommending to the powers measures unacceptable to her, I went to the Wai-wu Pu on the 28th and explained in detail not only the proposed joint commission as I understood it, but the workings of joint commissions generally, dwelling at great length on the fact that such commissions made recommendations to their governments, which retained perfect freedom of action. I said that I would be pleased to transmit to you by wire any inquiry I could not answer, but I begged the Wai-wu Pu to make any such inquiries promptly, repeating how unfortunate it would be for China and how painful would be the impression produced if she delayed accepting the proposed commission.
I have etc.,
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