File No. 774/751.
American Legation,
Lisbon, May 31,
1910.
No. 644.]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé Lorillard.
The
Foreign Office,
Lisbon, May 28,
1910.
In reply to the note which you were pleased to address me on the 4th
instant, in which, after informing me of the nations which have
already adhered to the international opium conference proposed by
the Government of the United States, you inquire if the studies
which the Government ordered to be made relative to the manner of
regulating the commerce of that product in the Province of Macau are
in a condition which would permit it to accept that conference in
principle, I must say to you the following:
Portugal, in spite of being the country which in the Province of
Macau has relatively the most to suffer in public revenues and in
its commercial interests by the work undertaken by the United States
to repress the use of that product in its evil results on humanity,
can not, without disavowing its principles and going back on its
traditions, help associating itself to the generous and civilizing
purpose which has dictated to the United States the initiative of
that task which it desires now to realize by means of a conference
to which it invites the civilized nations, and thus accepts the
conference in principle, which means it recognizes the convenience
and necessity of its meeting, to take part in which it is already
prepared by the necessary studies.
[Page 307]
This acceptance in principle of the conference has not exonerated the
Government from the measures which it desires to use to conciliate
the interests of all sorts which are at stake in such an
understanding, and therefore, as I have already verbally declared to
you, it desires to preserve entire liberty of opinion at the
discussion there of the program and object of the work of the
conference.
But whereas the lack of harmony of all countries at the meetings of
the conference would mean the absence of a complete and perfect
recognition to conciliate the interests similar to those of the
Province of Macau, to which I have already referred, and which it is
the Government’s duty to guard as well as those of another nature,
and also whereas these decisions may bring obligations and duties to
Portugal which would still further harm those interests, if all
countries directly or indirectly interested in the question do not
take part in the conference and thus remain completely free of any
pledge taken there, His Majesty’s Government, in view of the
restrictions which have been placed on the questions which are to be
discussed at the conference which would prevent its delegates from
making precise declarations for the defense of those interests, is
obliged to insist as a preliminary and essential condition to its
representation at the conference or its presence during the course
of its labors, that its decisions will only be taken into
consideration by it for whatever purpose provided they (the
decisions) have the unanimity of the votes of all nations there
represented and are applicable to all countries however interested
in the question, whether represented at the conference or not.
And thus showing to you what is the view of the Government on the
subject, and what is the decision taken by it, I avail myself,
etc.
